JERMAIN DEFOE is a major doubt for Sunderland’s trip to Leicester City tomorrow, with his weekend knee injury having forced him to miss a couple of training sessions.

Defoe damaged his knee when he fell awkwardly in the second half of the Black Cats’ 1-0 defeat at Watford, and it briefly looked as though he would not be able to complete the game.

A lengthy bout of treatment enabled him to complete the full 90 minutes, but he did not look completely comfortable in the closing stages and was forced to sit out training yesterday as the rest of his team-mates began their preparations for tonight’s trip to the King Power Stadium.

Sunderland’s medical staff were due to reassess him this afternoon, but while he will be given every possible opportunity to prove his fitness, Moyes admits he is not a guaranteed starter tomorrow.

“We’re waiting on Jermain,” said the Sunderland boss. “He took a couple of kicks, and he didn’t train (on Sunday).

“We will wait and see. It’s a knock just under the side of his knee, so we’ll have to see what the medical team says. I’ll be speaking to them later.”

If Defoe is unable to line up against the reigning Premier League champions, Moyes will almost certainly have to select Fabio Borini as the central striker despite the Italian having spent most of the season playing in a wide position.

Victor Anichebe has returned to the training ground as he completes his recovery from a knee ligament problem, but having missed the last two months, the 28-year-old is not yet ready for a first-team return.

“Victor is coming back,” said Moyes. “He trained (on Sunday) again, but we’re just trying to make sure that we get rid of his knee pain, which he’s still got a bit of. He’s not far away. Physically, he’s not ready, but he’s getting much closer.”

Last weekend’s results left Sunderland eight points adrift of safety, and if they are to have any chance of mounting another ‘Great Escape’, they are surely going to have to claim all three points tomorrow.

They are taking on the most in-form team in the Premier League, though, with Leicester having claimed five successive victories since Craig Shakespeare replaced Claudio Ranieri.

“We’re getting very close to the point of no return,” said Moyes. “Obviously, the games are running out and the points are going to be too big to make up. We have to pick up the points as soon as we can.

“Are we into miracle territory? We’re very close to needing those things to happen. We’ve been needing it for a while, but I think now we’re really needing things to happen.

“This is a big week. We needed to win one of these two to stay in touch, and I still feel that. If we can win (against Leicester), we’re still in touch. If we don’t, then we’re going to be really detached.”

Sunderland (probable, 4-3-3): Pickford; Jones, Kone, O’Shea, Oviedo; Rodwell, Ndong, Gibson; Borini, Defoe, Januzaj.