DAVID MOYES has challenged his Sunderland players to use Saturday’s stunning 4-0 win at Crystal Palace as a springboard for a successful survival push in the final three-and-a-half months of the season.

Moyes will take his Black Cats squad to New York for a four-day team-bonding session next week, and is hoping to be able to travel to the United States in a position outside the bottom three.

Last weekend’s Selhurst Park saunter took Sunderland to within two points of safety, with Saturday’s home game against a struggling Southampton representing a great opportunity to claim back-to-back victories for only the second time this season.

Back in November and December, Moyes’ side claimed three wins in the space of four games against Bournemouth, Hull and Leicester, with the victories lifting them off the foot of the table.

They have subsequently returned to bottom spot, but having claimed Sunderland’s biggest Premier League away win since 1999 at the weekend, Moyes is urging his players to make the most of the growing feel-good factor within the squad.

“It’s vital we build on this week,” said the Black Cats boss. “We had a great run in the first half of the season - that gave us a real lift. I feel like we need to do something similar in the second half of the season.

“I hope this can be the start. We had a great point against Spurs, and then an important three points (at Palace). We need to find another one of those runs to remain a Premier League team.”

Saturday witnessed the successful integration of Bryan Oviedo, Darron Gibson and Joleon Lescott into the squad, with all three January signings contributing to Sunderland’s victory.

Oviedo performed superbly as he shored up the left-hand side of the Wearsiders’ back four, while Gibson and Lescott both performed creditably after coming off the substitutes’ bench at the start of the second half.

Last season, the January arrival of Lamine Kone, Jan Kirchhoff and Wahbi Khzari proved crucial as Sunderland hauled themselves to safety with a game to go. This year’s mid-season purchases might not have been as expensive, but on the evidence of their debuts, they could prove every bit as influential.

They already appear to have bought into Moyes’ methods, and next week’s trip across the Atlantic should help strengthen the bonds within Sunderland’s squad.

With no game for 14 days because of their exit from the FA Cup, Sunderland’s players will fly to New York for a four-day break that will feature trips to NBA basketball and NHL ice hockey matches. They will also take part in some fitness sessions during their time in the US.

It has become relatively common for Premier League clubs who are not in the FA Cup to use fifth-round weekend to get out of the country. Previous Sunderland sides have travelled to Dubai, but Moyes took his Everton team to New York and regards the popular US tourist spot as an ideal base for developing team spirit.

“We would like to have done more business, but the boys who came in have done well,” he said. “I said last week that we need to get a good team spirit going now, and be a bit ugly at times. That’s what we need to be.”

Moyes is sweating over the availability of three of his players as he ponders his line-up for Saturday’s game with the Saints.

John O’Shea and Jack Rodwell both sustained hamstring injuries in the win over Palace, with the latter’s believed to be more serious, while Adnan Januzaj injured his hip after providing two polished assists for Jermain Defoe.

“Januzaj came off with a hip injury,” confirmed Moyes. “He played very well, and he put in a great through ball for Jermain Defoe’s second goal.

“Jack came off feeling his hamstring, and that would be a real blow for us because he’s been coming into some much better form.

“We’ve bought a couple of players in, but we can’t afford to lose any. John O’Shea is feeling his hamstring a little bit too.”