DAVID MOYES wants Sunderland’s players to prove they deserve to stay in the Premier League by regularly repeating the heroics of a week ago in the remaining games of the season.

The Black Cats can climb out of the bottom three tomorrow if results go with them at the bottom end of the table and they pick up the points against Southampton at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are looking to build on the 4-0 victory at Crystal Palace which has lifted everyone in the fight for survival, although it would count for little if they can’t follow it up with another positive performance.

Moyes said: “I have always thought we had a good chance, if the players play as well as they did in the last game then that is a bigger chance. They went to another level, last week. How often we can go to that level in the next few weeks then will determine if we can stay up.”

The Sunderland manager confirmed that midfielder Jack Rodwell will be missing with a hamstring problem. Both Adnan Januzaj and John O’Shea are available after training following knocks sustained at Palace.

He added: “The boys who came off last week, John and Adnan, have trained. Jack has a hamstring injury. We don’t think it’s too severe but he won’t be available for this game.

“Jordan Pickford is very close. He has been training, it is good to have him back. The surgeon’s release date comes after the weekend. He lacks a bit of training, he is doing all the work.

“I won’t involve him until after tomorrow and hopefully that will allow him to go past the surgeon’s date, it’s amazing because he is doing everything as well.”

Januzaj’s fitness is a boost to Sunderland. He was impressive at Selhurst Park, laying on two goals for Jermain Defoe while winning the free-kick for the first goal too.

Moyes said: “I still think Adnan has another couple of levels to go. He created a couple of goals, I have known he can do this. He can create, score goals we needed him.

“Adnan played a great through pass for Jermain’s second goal and he made us the goal against Watford as well. I still think he can do more but I agree he is doing better.”