DICK ADVOCAAT claims that Steven Fletcher is not guaranteed a starting spot against Everton tomorrow despite being passed fit to play at Goodison Park.

The £12m striker has recovered from his latest ankle problem and is available to face the Toffees, when the Black Cats know a victory at lunch-time will see them climb out of the bottom three.

But Danny Graham’s performances at Stoke City and then in the win over Southampton last Saturday have been a boost to Advocaat so Fletcher might have to start on the bench.

“It is a team effort where everybody has to know what they have to do,” said Advocaat. “It is good that he is back, but I have said that Graham in training is a goalscorer. You can see that.

“During the games Graham has not done that which is strange, but in the last couple of games we have scored goals, even if it was penalties, which has helped us and is good for confidence.”

Fletcher is not the only senior squad player who has returned to the squad in time to travel to Everton, with Wes Brown also available after knee trouble. But John O’Shea (ribs) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring) will both miss out.

Advocaat said: “We can’t take any risks with John O’Shea because we have important games to come. He was not 100 per cent so we cannot take any risks. Wes played on Monday for the Under-21s and has trained all week and looks good. We are very positive.

“I am not a person who wants to think about who is missing, John has to wait, but the players who come in have to have a lot of experience. There is no point talking about players unavailable.”

Sunderland remain a point shy of safety ahead of the trip to Everton and Advocaat wants to see his side claimed four points before the visit of Leicester City in eight days.

“I think we need three or four more points but that’s possible,” he said. “It’s in our hands and that’s important. We have two games at Chelsea and Arsenal, people are only counting the first two games but we still have two games after Everton and Leicester. Everyone is only counting those first two, I don’t see why.”

He added: “I don’t care what others do. I only care about our club. I don’t care about Newcastle, Hull or whoever. I don’t look too much at other teams. We have to care and show it on the pitch. It could go to the last game of the season, which is a nice game (smiles) at Chelsea!”