Moyes delighted to have Anichebe back in Sunderland’s attack

David Moyes admits Sunderland have missed Victor Anichebe’s presence up top this Premier League campaign.

After being released by West Brom, it looked as though Anichebe’s top-flight career would end there before Sunderland snapped him up on a one-year contract in September.

The 28-year-old striker bagged three goals for the beleaguered Black Cats before picking up a knee injury in January.

Anichebe returned as a substitute in Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday and, as he looks set to release him against Manchester United, Black Cats boss Moyes is happy to have him back.

“We have missed Victor because, if you look, we have not scored enough goals this season,” said Moyes.

“We have had as our attacking players Fabio Borini, Adnan Januzaj, Wahbi Khazri, Jermain Defoe and the other was Victor Anichebe, who gave us a completely different type of centre-forward from all the others.

“He was the only one we had different, so if he got injured then we were going to be in trouble. He never got started this season, but when he did come in he made a big impact for us.

“You have got to remember, Victor was a free transfer. There wasn’t another Premier League club that took him during the window. We took him and he’s actually come in and when he’s played the games for us he’s done really well.

“We have relied on Jermain a lot for his goals. I hope he’s got another half-dozen or so to get before the end of the season but we definitely need other people to contribute as well.”