DAVID MOYES has leapt to the defence of summer signing Papy Djilobodji by claiming the Sunderland defender has not made the error-strewn start to life on Wearside he has been accused of.

Djilobodji has been in and out of the starting line-up since making the £8m move from Chelsea in August because he has struggled to play consistently for 90 minutes.

There have been signs that he can handle the Premier League stage, having failed to force his way into the Chelsea team after moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer of last year.

Djilobodji spent the second half of last season on loan at Werder Bremen, where he played more regularly, and he was keen to make the most of his fresh opportunity in England this season.

Moyes has been criticised for spending big on Djilobodji – although the structure of the deal means they have not paid over the odds initially – but he is convinced there are signs that the centre-back will come good.

The Sunderland boss said: "Papy, in lots of ways, has played well and we think he's probably been a bit under-rated.

"A lot of blame has been put his way but I don't think that should have been the case. He's tried to do all the right things.

"He's got a long way to go but he's got better and he's not making as many mistakes as some people think he has.”

Djilobodji was back at the heart of the defence when Sunderland claimed a first league win of the season at Bournemouth last weekend. He had his moments, but on the whole he helped to keep the Cherries at bay when they pressed.

John O’Shea, fit again after shrugging off a hamstring problem, will be available again for the visit of fellow strugglers Hull City next weekend – provided there are no hiccups when he appears for the Republic of Ireland against Austria today.

Moyes will have a decision to make over who to partner Lamine Kone at the back, although the Everton target has been well below par himself since signing a new contract after the summer transfer window closed.

Kone was seen as an essential part of the Sunderland system when Everton were tracking him during the summer. However, if the Toffees and West Ham were to make an offer in January then Moyes would have to seriously consider it to boost his own transfer plans.

While Moyes has been short of central defensive options, Billy Jones thinks having a few right-backs has helped to bring the best out of him.

Jones must have been frustrated to see Donald Love and Javier Manquillo arrive from Manchester United and Atletico Madrid in the summer.

However, Jones has forced his way ahead of both for the last few games and he is likely to retain his place against Hull.

“It’s the one position where we’ve had cover for, and competition for from the first game of the season,” said Jones. “I think that helps you become the best you can be, and it’s good to have that throughout the squad once everyone’s back fit. That’ll benefit us.”

And, despite Sunderland’s woeful form that has left them staring at hefty five-point gap to safety after 11 games, Jones feels confident he can still push forward because it is what the manager wants from his full-backs.

Jones said: “The gaffer has never really put us off going forward, he wants us to do it when the time is right and not take risks.

“But you have to take the game to opposition teams and in this day and age width comes from the full-backs more often than not.

“You need to be up there helping your attacking players to create something. But when you are struggling and without a win you try to emphasise the clean sheet mentality more than anything. That’s what goes through the team, that if we can keep a clean sheet with Jermain Defoe up front you’ve always got a chance of winning the game.”