El-Hadji Diouf says new Sunderland team-mate Djibril Cisse will be one of the Premier League’s top scorers this season – and expects the team to finish in the top eight.

Diouf and Cisse played together for Liverpool before Diouf headed to Bolton and Cisse went to Marseille, but they have now reunited at the Stadium of Light.

And while Cisse struggled to make an impact during his previous spell in the Premier League, Diouf has no doubt he will fulfil his potential this time around.

“Djibril will be one of the top scorers in the Premier League, I know it,” he told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

“It is great for him to be at Sunderland and great for the Premier League to have him.

“This is the world’s best league and he can show everyone now how good he is.”

Sunderland boss Roy Keane has also brought in the likes of Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda and David Healy this summer, and Diouf believes relegation battles are now a thing of the past.

“This is the new Sunderland and we know what we can achieve.

“I think our performances have shown why we can believe in having a great season.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t get into the top eight.”