New Sunderland signing Jeremain Lens has hailed coach Dick Advocaat for the influence he has had on his career.

The Dutchman joined the Black Cats from Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv last week and it is the third time in his career that the 27-year-old has played under his fellow countryman having previously linked up with him at both AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven.

Indeed during their time together at the Philips Stadion, Lens enjoyed his best goalscoring return in a season when he scored 15 times in the Eredivisie during the 2012-2013 campaign.

The attack-minded player is hoping he can repeat that kind of form during his first season in the Premier League and he went on to praise the experienced coach for his ability to get the best out of his players.

He said: “I know Dick Advocaat very well from my time in Alkmaar and PSV. It will be the third time I’ve worked with Dick and at PSV I reached my best goalscoring season – 15 in the league – so I hope I will do the same now and score even more.”

“Everybody knows he is a very good head coach and he also gets the best out of the players, and in my personal opinion he is a good coach for me as well because he can reach the qualities I have and make everything come out so I hope it will happen again.”

The Wearside club have been embroiled in a relegation battle in each of the last three campaigns and they are available at 2.88 to finally succumb to the drop during the upcoming season.