DAVID MOYES has challenged Lamine Kone to go and prove he deserved to become one of the highest paid players in Sunderland’s history.

Kone signed a new five-year contract earlier this week and will reputedly earn £90,000-a-week at the Stadium of Light; just nine months after arriving from Lorient in a £6m deal.

The Ivorian centre-back had Everton try to sign him all summer and it is understood that they were willing to pay £21m for his services.

Sunderland stayed firm to keep him and Moyes has urged Kone – who had suggested he was annoyed that a new deal had not arrived earlier - to show why they were so happy to keep him and hand out fresh terms rather than offload him to the Toffees.

“Lamine came six months ago and I was not privy to a lot of what was said,” said Moyes. “But he had a contract that was promised to him and the club was always going to uphold that.

“My feelings were that we would always do it after September 1. It’s worth it because he is a good player and we need him.

"Now he has to become a leader, a top player. His contract suggests that, so we need him to perform to a really higher level now.”

Sunderland head to Tottenham on Sunday looking for a first Premier League win of the season under Moyes after losing 3-0 to Everton on Monday.

He revealed Lee Cattermole has returned to training after a double hernia operation but it would seem the trip to White Hart Lane has come too soon for him to be involved. Steven Pienaar, who missed the defeat to the Toffees, could return to action though.

Moyes said: “Lee Cattermole and Pienaar have returned to training. Lee is getting much closer to a first team recall. Billy Jones has trained with the first team too. He might be a bit longer because he is coming back from a couple of niggles.

“Steven felt something in his hamstring, we got him scanned and there was nothing there. The game was just too quick and we hope he is OK.”

Striker Victor Anichebe has a slight thigh strain so is being monitored. He is unlikely to be risked against Spurs.