Sam Allardyce hails his new signings after crucial Sunderland win over Manchester United

And he said the potentially crucial three points at the Stadium of Light shows his squad is "good enough" for the battle to stay in the Premier League.

Missing several key players going into the game, Allardyce was without Jeremain Lens and Duncan Watmore, while Younes Kaboul and Billy Jones also missed out.

But the Black Cats boss was delighted with his side's efforts against Louis van Gaal's side, with goals from Wahbi Khazri and a David De Gea own goal following Lamine Kone's powerful header securing a 2-1 win.

Allardyce said: "Really good performance today with the right result, and everyone who played on that field deserves a lot of credit for the way they've managed Manchester Utd and how often we've taken the game to them, and created lots of chances to win this game, and finally got the goal that did win it from Lamine.

"Our new players have made a massive contribution since they've been here but no more so than today with Wahbi's goal off the free-kick and then his corner for Lamine's winner.

"Hopefully that will bode well for the rest of the season.

"I'm absolutely delighted for the lads, it was a great performance.

"It's a terrific ask from these new players to produce that type of performance after arriving in January, they're on their knees in there because they're not used to the pace of the game here, it's extremely quick and much quicker than where they've come from.

"But they're handling it brilliantly and the ability that they've got in possession is making us a better team."

Jan Kirchhoff went off after 16 minutes with a hamstring injury, Jack Rodwell coming on in his place.

Allrdyce added: "We've got a lot of injuries and we've got another one with Kirchhoff going off after 20 minutes or so.

"We had five players missing today who could have been selected and Jermain Defoe had had a fitness test before the game for his hamstring. He lasted very well for us.

"It showed me today that the squad is good enough.

"If the squad can be depleted by four or five key players and you overcome that injury list and produce a performance like that, it tells me that the squad is united, it's all trying to pull in the right direction, and with a result as big as this one I hope it lifts their confidence to try and get out of the trouble we're in."