CONNOR WICKHAM did not think Sunderland would be deep in another relegation fight when he signed his new contract earlier this season - and is desperate to follow up Premier League survival by avoiding a repeat next year.

Wickham’s primary goal between now and the end of the campaign is to help the Black Cats pull off another escape act as they head for Everton tomorrow in a bottom three place.

It is not too dissimilar to 12 months ago when the 22-year-old found form at just the right time to keep Sunderland in the Premier League after previous boss Gus Poyet had even claimed they needed a ‘miracle’.

Wickham was rewarded with a new contract in December when he agreed a reputed £60,000-a-week deal tying him to the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2019.

The former Ipswich frontman is desperate to avoid a drop back into the Championship this month and wants the club to become a more dangerous Premier League force.

“We have a scenario now where we are in the relegation zone, but we need to pick up points from the next two games,” said Wickham. “We know the last two games will be difficult, but we have done it before.

“I couldn't tell you exactly why there has been a lack of progress (from last year). We've had two managers with different styles. Gus wanted to pass the ball a lot whereas now the manager (Dick Advocaat) is just ruthless – win; that's the main thing.

“He's put that mentality into the boys, and he's got a very high standard of training, in games, and with individuals, so it is pushing everyone on to do their best. There is competition for places now coming to the final few games of the season, and everybody wants to be involved.

“After this season it won't be easy [to get to the next level]. But we need to make sure that we aren't in the relegation zone at the end of this season first. We know the last couple of seasons haven't been great. But we need to do it all through the season, not just in the final four or five games.”

Wickham has not had the sort of season many had expected after his heroics at the end of last season when his goals effectively kept Sunderland up.

He has only scored six times and has tended to operate on the left rather than through the middle, but he has no regrets about signing a lengthy contract.

“I just wanted to play football, and that's what I have done,” said Wickham. “In the past season, I had a spell where I was out for a little bit and then the gaffer came in and put me back in the team which was a bonus for me. It gave me confidence again.

“When I signed the contract, obviously I didn't want to be involved in a relegation battle – no footballer would – but it's something we have to deal with, we are in this situation and we have to handle it how it is.

“Last season ended well for me and, while it wasn't a great situation to be in, it worked out well for the team. I think the main thing that made me sign the new contract was that he said to me that I was going to play football. I didn't want to sign another contract and then be left out again.”

Sunderland have given themselves a fighting chance of staying up courtesy of last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Southampton. Advocaat orchestrated a much better performance and will be looking for that to continue at Goodison Park.

After the trip to Everton, where a lunchtime victory will lift them out of the bottom three before the other teams play, Sunderland then face relegation contenders Leicester City at the Stadium of Light a week later.

He said: “I wouldn't say it is about the pressure, although it is always going to be in the back of your mind because it is everywhere you go – especially in the North-East, because everyone is so passionate about the clubs. It's in every newspaper, every shop window, so you can't really get away from it.

“But it's something we have dealt with before, we've got four fixtures to come and we've had a difficult run of games which we could have taken points from. Saturday was a must-win and I think it has put us in good stead for the next few games.

”We've got two fixtures coming up now which we have to turn into six points, and that would be a massive boost for us and it would really damage teams around us if results go our way. This weekend is going to be massive for us and for the teams around us, because there are four teams above us that can be dragged into the situation.”