Allardyce said: “Nic has not produced the sort of quality we know he has in abundance.
“We have to be patient, though; we cannot put that much pressure on him. We have 11 players in the side after all.
“He is okay. We just have to use him more and get more ball to him.
“I will stick with him. He has electrifying pace – and when he gets behind defenders nobody can catch him. He can provide a goal as well as score a goal.
“When that eventually turns goals into his favour he will get more confident and more goals.”