DARRON GIBSON’S decision to turn his back on Everton in favour of first team football with Sunderland has earned him a recall to the international stage.

Martin O’Neill, the former Black Cats manager, has called Gibson up to the Republic of Ireland's provisional 39-man squad for the World Cup qualifier with Wales and a friendly with Iceland later this month.

It ends a ten-month international exile for the 29-year-old, who had his hopes of appearing in last summer’s European Championships dashed because of a lack of action.

Gibson had initially been called into the provisional squad for those finals only to be left out when O’Neill reduced it; and he has not been back involved for his country since.

That was down to the absence of first team playing time after Gibson had fallen out of favour completely at Everton under Ronald Koeman.

The 29-year-old’s only bit of football before his move to Sunderland arrived in a 24-minute appearance in the EFL Cup against Yeovil for the Toffees.

But Gibson has slotted back into the Premier League way since joining in a £7.5m double deal along with Bryan Oviedo in January.

He was used as a substitute at Crystal Palace and has started the three defeats to Southampton, Everton and Manchester City.

Gibson will hope to add to his 29 caps as Ireland look to cement their place at the top of Group D after an unbeaten four-match start to the qualifying campaign. Sunderland defender John O’Shea is also in the squad.

The return to fitness of Jan Kirchhoff ahead of Burnley’s visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday will put extra pressure on the likes of Gibson.

Kirchhoff has not played since before Christmas because of knee trouble. He is fit again and, provided there are no set-backs, the German will be in contention to face the Clarets.

Sunderland can’t afford to lose that game. A run of just one win since before Christmas has left David Moyes’ side playing catch-up in the fight to stay in the Premier League.

Moyes’ team are five points adrift of safety with 11 matches remaining and the form of all of the teams above – with the exception of struggling Middlesbrough – is a cause of concern for Sunderland.

The Sunderland boss is looking for as many boosts as he can to lift spirits and keep his players focused on the prospect of keeping top-flight football on Wearside.

He is desperate for Victor Anichebe to return to action. He has stepped up his fitness work and has tested the knee ligaments he tore by kicking balls recently.

The former Everton striker will not be available to face Burnley, though, and is unlikely to be fit for the trip to Watford after the international break on April 1.

Anichebe’s absence has been a blow because he was an instrumental part of the mini-revival before Christmas when his form contributed to a run of four wins from seven matches.

But the Nigerian suffered the hamstring injury at Burnley on New Year’s Eve and was rocked on his attempted comeback at West Brom on January 21 when he suffered the medial ligament injury. He has not played again since.

After the trip to Watford there are nine more Premier League games and Moyes hopes to see Anichebe available for as many of those as possible.