DAVID MOYES is banking on the international break bringing Sunderland a fitness boost – and dreams of one of his returning players doing a ‘Connor Wickham’ in the fight to stay up.

The injury list has eased in recent weeks and it is hoped sidelined duo Victor Anichebe and Lee Cattermole can make significant progress during the two-week break.

Goals are a big part of the problem for Sunderland; the impact of Anichebe could be crucial in the fight for Premier League survival.

The forward has not played since January 21 after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury, and that arrived after just one substitute appearance following a lay-off because of hamstring trouble.

But Anichebe, a free agent signing in September, showed on his outings before Christmas just how important he is to the cause.

His performances, and three goals, were a crucial factor in a mini-revival which led to Moyes’ side giving themselves a chance of staying up after failing to win any of their opening ten matches.

Now the Sunderland boss hopes Anichebe can recapture his form and fitness quickly enough to significantly boost his side’s chances of staying in the top-flight – and he would love him to repeat Wickham’s heroics of three years ago.

Gus Poyet had suggested Sunderland needed a ‘miracle’ to stay up when they trailed safety by seven points with just six matches remaining in 2014. They ended up taking 13 points from those remaining games, with Wickham scoring five times to help them achieve the unthinkable.

Moyes said: “That’s what we need! Victor might give us another dimension - even if it’s off the bench. Hopefully Victor may be back. Maybe Cattermole too. How can they get to match level fitness?”

Moyes is looking at arranging a couple of friendlies at the Academy of Light to help with the pair’s recovery, having seen them step up their rehabilitation in the last week or so.

The Black Cats boss oversaw a training game on Wednesday that pitted some first-teamers against members of the Under-23 squad, with Cattermole playing for around 40 minutes.

Sunderland have back-to-back away dates at Watford and Leicester City, and they are seven points adrift of safety with just ten matches remaining.

Moyes thinks five wins at least will be required from those remaining games to stand a chance of staying up.

Relegation will clearly affect what Sunderland do in the transfer market in the summer and reports in Turkey have claimed Fenerbahce have tried to engineer a swap deal for Jeremain Lens.

The Dutchman is not wanted back on Wearside regardless and, in a bid to avoid paying a hefty fee, the Istanbul club are looking at being creative in willing to let midfielder Salih Ucan head to England.

Lens has impressed in Turkey, with four goals and 13 assists making Fenerbahce keen to strike a permanent deal.