DANNY Welbeck has echoed Steve Bruce’s assertion that Sunderland have become too reliant on their lone centreforward Darren Bent.

Bruce highlighted an overdependence on Bent, who has scored five of the Black Cats’ seven Premier League goals this season, in the wake of Monday’s goalless draw at Blackburn.

Welbeck is one of the players the Sunderland boss was alluding to when he stressed the need to start sharing the goals more equitably, as despite being involved in seven of the club’s eight league matches, the Manchester United loanee is still to open his account in a red-andwhite shirt.

“I think we all accept we’ve relied on Darren a bit too much,” said Welbeck. “He’s a world-class striker, so he knows how to get goals. But everyone’s starting to think they need to do more to chip in and help him out.

“It’s difficult, because it’s not as though we’re not trying to score. But maybe we haven’t got into the right positions like we should have done. Monday’s game proved that. We couldn’t really find the killer pass to allow us to score goals.

“It’s about being more clinical in front of goal, because we can’t just keep relying on Darren to get the goals for us.

Everyone’s got to chip in, but maybe the approach play has to be a bit better as well.”

Alternatively, Bruce could alter Sunderland’s system in an attempt to increase their attacking threat. With Aston Villa due to visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday, there is sure to be a clamour for Bruce to switch to a 4-4-2 formation in order to accommodate club-record signing Asamoah Gyan.

Whatever happens at the weekend, Welbeck’s opportunities to play as an out-andout centre-forward are likely to remain limited, a situation that although understandable given the presence of Bent and Gyan, is perhaps far from ideal.

“I’m obviously playing on the left wing at the moment, and it’s not really my preferred position because I’d rather be in front of goal,”

said Welbeck, who is refusing to discuss his future beyond the end of his current seasonlong loan deal.

“Just to be on the pitch and getting minutes in the Premier League is vital for me and I’m happy with that.

“With the formation we’re playing, it’s important the wide men get as far forward as often as they can. We have to try to get up front to help Darren and make sure he’s not left alone. The midfielders have to try to get behind the opposition defenders.”