WHATEVER could go wrong did go wrong for Joleon Lescott last year. That is why, after being handed a chance to revive his career at Sunderland, the former England defender is desperate for 2017 to go a lot smoother.

Lescott was relaxed and in talkative mood when he visited Penshaw Monument with some of his new team-mates earlier this week; even smiling which was something he hasn’t done much during the last 12 months.

Keeping that smile is the challenge he faces now, and he needs help from the rest of the Sunderland squad too as they look to stay in the Premier League.

Lescott was part of the Aston Villa team that suffered a calamitous relegation in May, having endured a run of horrendous defeats and run-ins with the fans. The Villans only won three matches all season and totalled just 17 points.

Sunderland, despite sitting bottom, already have 16 points and head to Crystal Palace, another side in the bottom three, looking to close the five-point gap to safety. Lescott, knowing what it feels like to go down, is confident there is more in David Moyes’ squad to avoid a repeat.

The 34-year-old said: “It is a big challenge and the stakes are the same, but the lads here have been in this situation before so hopefully I won't need to draw on my experiences last season. But if need be, I will do so. The lads know what needs to happen, they know we have to fight to the end.

“It's not just relegation battle experience here, it is Premier League experience. I'm yet to meet a foreign player who doesn't say that this is the most physically demanding league they have played in, so the more experience of that you have, the better.

“We've been here before, but it is not going to be easy. It's not a given (that Sunderland will stay up), but we are fully confident that we can achieve it.

“That's the aim, and when you have a player like Jermain Defoe – I don't want to put too much pressure on him, but I will – you have a chance.

“Not many teams in the Premier League have a Jermain Defoe in their side, and certainly not ones that are fighting relegation, so if we can keep him fit and healthy I'm sure he can help us stay up.”

After the frustration and disappointment of relegation to the Championship, Lescott left Villa Park. It felt at that time he made a wise choice to clear his mind and head to Greece as a free agent, where he signed for AEK Athens.

Just four games in, though, he suffered injury frustration and required knee surgery, which led to an agreement being reached with AEK over the remaining term of his contract. A month later he was back in England, building up his fitness with former club Manchester City.

Lescott said: “It wasn't the greatest experience for me in Greece. Being over there put things in perspective as far as the things we take for granted here – the PFA, the FA, and the organisation of the Premier League. It is not the same over there.

“The things you take for granted do not happen over there, and it was difficult towards the end. There wasn't much help provided, so it wasn't a difficult decision to make.”

Now the centre-back finds himself back with David Moyes; the manager who signed him from Wolves in 2006 before spending three years under him at Everton until Manchester City paid £22m to take him to the Etihad Stadium.

He said: “It was an even easier decision, to be honest, because of who the manager was. It wasn't a case of him having to do any selling to me, he asked me if I was ready to come and I said ‘yes’. It was a Thursday night, and I was here on the Friday morning.

“To be honest, I put more pressure on myself than any manager or teammate can do. I knew that, where I am in my career, I wasn't going to come here and go straight into the team but I am happy to have an opportunity to prove myself – and I am determined to do that.”

Lescott, who has not played since the beginning of October, feels refreshed and ready to play when called upon. He was on the bench against Tottenham and is likely to be there again this afternoon at Selhurst Park.

He said: “I'm probably as fit as I've been for a while. That time off gives you space to clear your head, as well as to get physically fit, and I am as hungry as ever to get playing.

“It feels a bit like a fresh start, but I love my job. I love playing, I love training, so to have this chance to come and play in the Premier League again is the biggest plus.”