Sunderland manager David Moyes is worried that the loss of key players like Jan Kirchhoff is taking away the ‘bite’ from his team.

Kirchhoff was signed by Sunderland from Bayern Munich in January and the German has been a big influence at the Stadium of Light.

So far this season however he has struggled with injury. He missed the first four games under Moyes and was stretched off before an hour had elapsed in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

It is unclear what the 26-year-old’s injury is, or his estimated time of absence, but Moyes believes that losing the likes of Kirchhoff and Mike Cattermole from the side denies Sunderland an edge.

“If we lose Kirch and we lose Catts, we lose a little bit of the steel and a little bit of the boys who have been here before while we’re looking to build a new team,” the Scot told the Sunderland Echo.

They are not the only worries for Moyes during the international break. Steven Pienaar is also on the sidelines while Adnan Januzaj completes a suspension.

“Not to have him [Kirchhoff], Steven Pienaar and Adnan Januzaj is massive, because they help us play better and we are short in that area.

They are big, big misses to this club.” The point against West Brom, salvaged through a late strike from Patrick van Aanholt, was just Sunderland’s second in seven games this season.

They once more find themselves propping up the table early in the season.

Sunderland are 3.75 to win their next game away at Stoke on October 15 while the Black Cats are 1.75 to be relegated this season.