SUNDERLAND midfielder Carl Robinson isn't just looking to secure a place in the Premiership over the next month - he is playing for his long-term future at the Stadium of Light.

The Wales international has been in a state of footballing flux ever since he joined Portsmouth from Wolves in July 2002.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp quickly decided that Robinson's face didn't fit at Fratton Park and, after starting just 12 games, he was sent on a series of loan moves that saw him play for four different clubs in little more than a year.

Sunderland became the fifth when the 27-year-old made a deadline day move to Wearside last month, and Robinson has started the last four games as the Black Cats' hopes of automatic promotion have all but disappeared.

Sunday's 1-0 defeat to West Brom left them 12 points behind the Baggies, and Sunderland still need two wins from their final five games to be certain of a place in the play-offs.

Mick McCarthy's side go in search of the first of those victories at Crystal Palace tonight and Robinson knows just how crucial the next month could be on both a professional, and a personal note.

"There's a better chance of me securing a deal here if I can help Sunderland get promoted," he said. "That's the way I'm looking at things over the next month or so.

"My current deal is to the end of the season and I've always said that I want to help Sunderland get into the Premiership.

"I want to settle down now. I've got a young family, so I'm ready to settle in one place although I don't know where that's going to be yet.

"I'll have to sit down in the summer and speak to Portsmouth but, hopefully, they'll secure their Premiership status and want to get more players in next year.

"Maybe that'll work out for me because it might mean they have to move some players on.

"If Sunderland were able to make me an offer I'd be very interested. Sunderland's a massive club - who wouldn't want to join a club of this size?

"If you ask any player in the First Division, and most players in the Premiership, they'd jump at the chance of coming to Sunderland. I'm no different."

Consecutive defeats to Ipswich and West Brom have made it almost impossible for the Black Cats to fill one of the two automatic promotion spots.

With Crystal Palace currently three points adrift of a play-off place, tonight's game appears to be of far more significance to the home side than Sunderland.

But, with testing games against Wigan and Norwich still to come, McCarthy's side are desperate to be in the best possible shape once the play-off lottery gets underway.

"The team that goes into the play-offs on the best run of form normally does very well in them," said Robinson. "We've got to use the last five games to make sure that's us.

"We want five wins out of our last five games. If we can go into the play-offs on a run of five wins, people will be looking at us and saying 'Sunderland have bounced right back'."

Bouncing back is something that the Black Cats have had to perfect over the last month after the disappointment of FA Cup semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Millwall.

The 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford was followed by a 2-1 win at Wimbledon just two days later, and McCarthy is confident that his side will respond in a similarly positive manner at Selhurst Park tonight.

"We all took a knock on Sunday," said the Black Cats boss. "We played well enough against both West Brom and Ipswich. We didn't create a lot of chances, but I don't know who would have done.

"But the test is how you pick yourself up and get on with it afterwards. We've managed to do that throughout the season and I've got no reason to believe things will be any different after the defeats we've just had.

"We can't afford to relax because nothing's nailed on yet. We still need points because we want to ensure our play-off spot as soon as possible."

Club captain Jason McAteer is available after missing Sunday's defeat through suspension, while skipper George McCartney (knee) will travel after injuring himself against West Brom but is unlikely to play.

Paul Thirlwell (calf) and Stephen Wright (thigh) will miss out again, although both could feature at Wigan on Saturday.

l Bobby Williamson does not intend to change a winning formula at Plymouth just yet.

The former Hibs boss was officially unveiled as the new manager at Home Park, where he inherited a side top of Division Two and which could clinch the championship at the weekend.

Despite a 4-1 drubbing at Oldham last time out, Plymouth can secure promotion and the title should they beat second-placed QPR at home on Saturday.

Williamson maintains he could stick with current coaches Kevin Summerfield and John Blackley, who will be in charge of team affairs this weekend.