SUNDERLAND boss David Moyes thinks Duncan Watmore has the ability to be a long term hit at the top level, provided he gets his timing right on the pitch.

Watmore is keen to learn and his determination to constantly improve himself – highlighted by the first-class honours degree in economics and business management he holds – should ensure his rise to prominence continues.

Moyes has worked closely with him since taking over in July and the forward’s appearance in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Bournemouth was his 14th outing of the season; he has played in every game so far.

Watmore’s performances have kept him in the England Under-21s squad and he has joined up with Aidy Boothroyd’s crop ahead of Thursday’s friendly with Italy.

The 22-year-old has shown what sort of threat he can pose since breaking onto the scene and his manager has been impressed by what he has seen.

But Moyes is also keen to help the former Altrincham youngster get better and better so is urging him to work on knowing when to step up the pace.

The Sunderland boss said: "Duncan’s got something. He needs to learn when to slow down and when to speed up a bit more and technically hopefully his development will improve."

Moyes watched Watmore turn in another positive display to help the Black Cats end the wait for a Premier League win on Saturday.

Like so often this season, Watmore was a bundle of energy to help Sunderland counter attack and he has provided a real outlet for the side this season.

Moyes said: "I thought Duncan, at times, was really positive at Bournemouth. He was disappointed in the first half that he did not take on people more often.

"He got to the by-line and put in a great cross and he would have scored as well had he not been given offside. He probably was offside, he looked offside.”

Sunderland have reduced the gap to safety to six points after the successful day on the south coast, but it will count for little if they do not follow it up with a second win when Hull City travel to the Stadium of Light a week on Saturday.

The team’s woeful start to the campaign has guaranteed that they will be involved in another relegation fight this season and the extent of Moyes’ recruitment in January could be determined by the position they are in at that stage.

Ellis Short, the club’s owner, is unlikely to hand over much of a transfer kitty for new players if Sunderland remain bottom of the Premier League.

But that has still not stopped Moyes from looking around to consider his options on the transfer front. Croatian defender Domagoj Vida is a player he is known to admire but is being quoted figures of around £10m at this stage.

Sunderland were in contact with Dynamo Kiev, where he has two years remaining on his contract, in the summer and there will be a fresh approach in the new year if Short gives the go-ahead.

It has also emerged that Jeremain Lens, who is on loan at Fenerbahce, would be interested in staying in Turkey after impressing there. He has been recalled to the Holland squad this week.

Lens said: "I am happy as I am. I have friendships within the team, excellent friendships. I feel like I belong here. If the management of Fenerbahce want me, I want to stay."