SAM ALLARDYCE admits he will regard his time at Sunderland as a failure unless he keeps the club in the Premier League this season.

Allardyce inherited a side in 19th position when he agreed to take over from Dick Advocaat last October, and while he has overseen a number of marked improvements during his six months on Wearside, the club’s standing in the league table has barely shifted.

The Black Cats find themselves in 18th place with five games remaining, and although last weekend’s 3-0 win at Carrow Road saw them move to within a point of 17th-placed Norwich City, they remain in an extremely perilous position.

Allardyce has never been relegated from the top-flight in a career that has spanned more than two decades, and for all that he has enjoyed his time at Sunderland thanks in no small measure to the unwavering support of the club’s fans, he will only regard his move to the Stadium of Light as a wise one if he manages to clamber out of the bottom three.

“It will be only be worth it if we stay in the Premier League,” said the Sunderland boss. “It’s a fantastic club, the supporters are outstanding and they’ve stuck by the team all the way through.

“They’re so passionate about football, and I’m a football man, so I’m very happy here. But I’ll only be really happy, I’ll only be satisfied, if we’re still playing in the Premier League next season.”

With last weekend’s victory having ended a run of six games without a win, Sunderland will have momentum on their side when they entertain Arsenal on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger’s side have won on their last four league visits to Wearside, but stuttered to a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace at the weekend.

“We’ve let so many games slip from winning positions, but this one (at Norwich), we finally clinched,” said Allardyce, in an interview with TalkSport. “Hopefully, that will give the players the confidence to go on and win more matches.”

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to make his first senior appearance of the season on Sunday, with Wenger happy with the way the England international has responded to his gradual reintegration via the development team.