David Moyes believes goalkeeper Jordan Pickford could be as central to Sunderland's Premier League survival hopes as lethal marksman Jermain Defoe.
It is little exaggeration to say that the 34-year-old Defoe's goals have kept the Black Cats in the top flight for the last two seasons, and he remains their best hope of escaping the drop for the fifth successive campaign.
However, Moyes believes the return of 22-year-old Pickford from a knee injury could be just as crucial given his fine displays before misfortune struck.
Asked if that was the case, the Scot said: 'Definitely.