JERMAIN DEFOE has urged his Sunderland team-mates to display a clinical streak when they take on Manchester City this weekend.

The Black Cats currently find themselves at the foot of the Premier League table, and their position could have worsened further by the time they kick off at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon as all of their relegation rivals play on Saturday.

Last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Everton ensured Sunderland would remain in bottom position, with David Moyes’ side failing to score for the fourth time in their last five matches.

They created a handful of chances at Goodison Park, but were unable to take any of them, with Defoe’s second-half shot that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar representing the closest they came to a breakthrough.

Opportunities could well be at a premium when they take on Manchester City in three days’ time, so Defoe accepts he and his team-mates will have to improve their conversion rate if they are to spring a surprise.

“We have to try and take something from the game,” said Sunderland’s leading scorer. “But first and foremost we have to be solid because they’re (Man City) a top team.

“There are positives we can take out of the Everton game because they’re tough to play against. They keep the ball well, they’re direct, and Romelu Lukaku is a handful, but we created chances and we have to look at ourselves and improve.

“I believe we can create opportunities against City, and hopefully we can score goals, but when we do create chances, we have to take them.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland’s Under-23 team will travel to Norwich City in the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup.

Sunderland’s youngsters booked their place in the last four of the prestigious international competition when they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at the Stadium of Light, and will now take on a Norwich side that thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 6-0 in the quarter-finals.

Swansea City will face FC Porto in the other semi-finals, with the last four games having to take place before April 15. Ticket details will be released in due course.