VICTOR ANICHEBE is looking forward to having a former Everton team-mate back to help Sunderland try to put a few smiles back on some faces before the end of the season.

The Black Cats – whose highly-rated goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award - are on course to drop back down to the Championship after ten years in the Premier League.

The chances of top-flight football being played at the Stadium of Light next season are slim, after the 21st defeat of a sorry season was inflicted on them by Manchester United last Sunday.

Sunderland’s players insist they will keep on battling until it is mathematically impossible for them to climb to safety, and face struggling West Ham United on Wearside this weekend looking to reduce the ten-point gap.

Even though Sunderland have a game in hand on the majority of teams fighting to stay up, it is fanciful for anyone to suggest that David Moyes will be able to pull off something of a sporting miracle to keep them team up.

There have been key injuries to deal with all season for Moyes, but that list has eased considerably in recent weeks even if it appears too late to save the season.

He could have another player available again to face the Hammers because Steven Pienaar has shrugged off a calf problem. Anichebe, who played alongside Pienaar at Goodison Park, is desperate to have the South African back.

Anichebe said: “Lee Cattermole is coming back to full match fitness after his return and I would like to see Steven Pienaar coming back too.

“When we were doing well that time he was the one who would give me the ball, we linked up well, instead of the ball coming from 25 yards down to me.

“He’s the link between the full-back, just things like that. It’s the same thing over and over again, but I hope that we will improve and we will.”

Pienaar, 35, has not played since February 11 because of his calf problem. Anichebe has also had his own issues and made his first start of 2017 against Manchester United on Sunday.

The striker had appeared as a substitute at Leicester City in the previous game after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, but he was thrown in and performed well against the Red Devils until he tired in the second half. He is looking for assistance, though.

Anichebe said: “It’s difficult coming back, and we do play to me, a lot down my side, it’s good for me but sometimes I think, you can see me in the games, I’m saying, go down the other side, build up from different places.

“It’s important we do that, you see in games, Marouane Fellaini was just coming and standing on me, that’s what happens. We need to mix it up a bit, but I need to get games as well.”

Seb Larsson will not face West Ham after having an appeal to have his red card against Manchester United quashed.

The Swedish midfielder was frustrated when he was dismissed with a straight red for his strong tackle on Ander Herrera.

Even though he did have his studs showing there was a well-supported opinion that it was not reckless and he should not have been sent off by referee Craig Pawson.

However, the FA’s disciplinary panel have thrown the appeal out and Larsson will serve a three-match ban, starting with tomorrow’s visit of West Ham. He will also miss the games with Middlesbrough and Bournemouth.

Goalkeeper Pickford has been shortlisted for the PFA Young player of the Year award.

Pickford's heroics between the posts have earned him the respect of his fellow players in the game.

He has been named as one of six nominees up for the prestigious award alongside Tottenham duo Deli Alli and Harry Kane, Everton's Romelu Lukaku, Manchester City's Leroy Sane and Burnley's Michael Keane.

Pickford has made 24 appearances for Sunderland. He also received a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England side and he should play a prominent role for his country in the Under-21s’ European Championship this summer.