DAVID MOYES thinks Sunderland’s new recruits are ready to be called on in the fight to beat the drop – even if they could do with building up their match fitness.

Joleon Lescott made the bench against Tottenham on Tuesday night and £7.5m pair Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson, signed from Everton, are in the mix to face to Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Moyes accepts that all three, who have hardly played this season, could take time to hit top gear but he is confident they can deliver if he does turn to them sooner than expected.

The Sunderland boss said: “I think they will be around the squad, not sure what or when they will play. We picked up a good point in midweek. We will look at Bryan and Darron.

“Bryan is probably closer to being ready to play but Darron has a little more to do. Both are ready if we need them though.”

There are no fresh injuries ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park, which will see Sam Allardyce take on the Black Cats for the first time since taking over England in the summer.

Bottom club Sunderland trail the Eagles by three points and then there are a further two points to make up to safety, so the pressure is on both teams to earn the points.

Moyes said: “Sam has experience, he has been round the block. He knows what is required. He has done all of the things to climb the ladder at different times, and that experience and knowing how to manage has worked. He is his own man and has his own style.

“I wouldn’t have thought Palace would be in this situation. If you had said that in the summer then I wouldn’t have believed you. Their ambitions were to climb mid-table and maybe more. Maybe it is a surprise to see them where they are.

“It is a consolation that others have got out of it. The big thing is to be out of it come the last day of the season. We have to hang in there and make sure it happens.”

Lynden Gooch will stay on Wearside to build up his fitness by playing for the Under-23s today, while Jordan Pickford is the closest of the injured players to making a return. The goalkeeper is still a couple of weeks away from recovery.