DAVID MOYES has spent the week pondering whether it is the right time to bring Jordan Pickford back into the first-team picture to help Sunderland’s fight to stay in the Premier League.

Pickford has impressed at the Academy of Light with his attitude and application in training since recovering from his knee ligament injury.

Now he is waiting to learn if he has done enough to persuade manager Moyes that he deserves a recall at Everton tomorrow.

The medical team are happy for him to be thrown back into the thick of things. Moyes is just weighing up whether the time is right, after Vito Mannone’s inconsistencies in his absence.

Frustratingly for Mannone he conceded four goals in his last outing against Southampton at the Stadium of Light; at a time when he was showing signs of finding his best form himself.

Mannone, who attracted interest from Italian club Genoa last month, had kept two clean sheets in a row to help Sunderland secure four points from games against Tottenham and Crystal Palace.

Disaster struck, though, against Southampton and Manolo Gabbiadini was at the double to help inflict defeat number 16 on Moyes’ men.

Pickford suffered ten losses in the Premier league after replacing Mannone in the starting line-up in August.

But the 22-year-old's performances belied his inexperience, with his shot stopping and distribution of the highest order to make Champions League clubs and England boss Gareth Southgate take notice.

Moyes will make his decision after today’s training session. Pickford is ready, as noted by team-mates and the supporters who witnessed him train at the Stadium of Light during Monday’s open session.

George Honeyman, his former Under-23s team-mate, said: “He made some cracking saves, didn’t he? Jordan’s probably my best mate in the team so I’m really happy, he’s a nightmare when he’s not playing!

“Hopefully he’s back playing, competition in every place is what we want, we don’t want anybody’s place to be safe and he brings that. Just look at last Monday, he showed what he can bring, his saves were incredible.

“The more competition for places we can get, the harder everyone is going to train and play, and that’s just natural, that happens in any team.”

Sunderland’s midfield options have also been boosted by the return to fitness of Jan Kirchhoff. It is unclear whether he will be risked at Everton, although the sight of him taking part in contact training augurs well.

The German midfielder has not played since the middle of December because of a cruciate ligament injury of his own. He did not go to New York last week so he could concentrate on working on his fitness.

Lee Cattermole, another midfielder ruled out long-term, is also closing in on a return. The Teessider, however, is still not expected to be back until the middle of next month at the earliest.

Cattermole’s team-mates have been encouraged and Honeyman, a young midfielder himself, has learned a lot over the years about the commitment required at Premier League level from him.

“When Catts gets back that will be a big boost for everyone,” said Honeyman. “I love being around him because he’s one of the ones that mentally drags people through.

“Under his wing is not a bad place to be. It’ll not be long until we have everyone back and we’ll be raring to go. I like to think I go at it every training session, every match, and I think he’s probably the biggest one for that, I just love his competitive spirit and it’s something I can draw from.”