AFTER more than a decade of trying, and often failing, to convince people of his qualities, David Moyes attributes Victor Anichebe’s improved form with Sunderland to the fact that the striker finally feels wanted.

Anichebe was the star of Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Hull City at the weekend, scoring two goals in a single Premier League game for the first time since he bagged a brace in an Everton win over Newcastle United in December 2006.

It is almost ten years since that game, and the intervening period has seen Anichebe struggle to hold down a first-team place at both Everton and West Brom before his release as a free agent at the start of this summer.

Moyes has always been an admirer of his talents though, and when he was unable to sign a striker prior to the closure of the transfer window, he immediately approached Anichebe in an attempt to bolster Sunderland’s attacking options.

His faith has been rewarded, with Anichebe claiming three goals in his last two games, and Moyes was always confident an arm around the shoulder would go a long way towards transforming the 28-year-old’s fortunes.

“I think he needs a bit of love,” said the Sunderland boss. “I think he wants to be respected. He’s probably been to a lot of places where he’s maybe not had that.

“I’ve always respected him and he knows that, and I think that’s why he came to play here. It makes it a lot easier for him, but also I would like, and he likes, the people behind him. He’s that sort of boy, and I think at the moment the crowd are enjoying having him as well.

“When he’s on top of it, he can be just like he is now. He was never quite there in the past, but I think he’s had confidence because I think the players like him and he’s settled in really well.”

Crucially, Anichebe looks fitter than he has for a number of years, which speaks volumes for his mental determination given he was without a club for the best part of four months before signing for Sunderland.

He worked with a personal trainer in Los Angeles before taking part in daily training sessions at Knutsford FC, and Moyes was impressed with his physical fitness levels when he arrived to sign his contract at the Academy of Light.

It took him a while to break into the Black Cats’ first team, but he has successfully completed back-to-back 90 minutes for the first time in more than a season and is set to retain his place in the starting line-up when Sunderland travel to Liverpool on Saturday.

“You’ve got to remember, this is a boy who didn’t have a club,” said Moyes. “We brought him after the window because I always thought he’s got something to offer. He’s a handful to play against – you wouldn’t like to play against him.

“He was doing extra training, working really hard. He’d done no pre-season, so he had to put in all the extra graft. He’s a big unit, he’s got a lot of beef to carry about. So he has to work hard at it, he can’t afford to let his fitness down.

“The big thing for him is that if you actually look at the 90 minutes, he’s now played three. Victor has never really been renowned for that.

“Psychologically and mentally, he’s in a good place because he’s realising, ‘Hey, I can play this, I can run this distance, I can do what’s getting asked of me’. We hope he continues.”

Anichebe started training with Knutsford on his return to the United States, with his home in the North-West situated close to the Cheshire League Premier Division club’s home ground.

Jimmy Evans, the Knutsford chairman, received Anichebe’s request for a training base, and was only too happy to help the striker keep himself fit.

“It was a pleasure having Victor and his brother training at the club in the summer,” said Evans. “Victor is a very polite and well-mannered, shy and unassuming young man, and we were happy to help him out. He was no trouble at all, and we are delighted to see him doing so well at Sunderland.

“Victor lives in Knutsford and called at the club to speak with the groundsman, Brian Deeley, and asked whether he could possibly train at the club to keep himself in shape while he was out of contract.

“As football people, the answer was obviously yes, and rather than Victor purchase training gear, we provided him full use and access to our training gear – balls, poles, goals and stuff.

“He came down regularly in the mornings with his brother for a two-hour fitness session and worked very hard, often doing a weight session in the afternoon.

“It was interesting for us to watch his session and see how the pros do it, especially the sharp finishing sessions he did, with high intensity. He never went through the motions, but always put a big shift in - which was impressive. It was our pleasure and privilege to host Victor.”