KEVIN KYLE wants to adopt the street-wise style of Niall Quinn in a bid to steer Sunderland's faltering promotion push back on track.

During Quinn's time on Wearside, before hanging up his boots last season, he used to take time out and give his younger colleague words of advice.

And as both strikers stand at over 6ft 3in tall, supporters have obviously made comparisons between the pair at the Stadium of Light.

But Kyle, 15 years Quinn's junior, admits he has a long way to go before he can say he has managed to fill the void left by the big Irishman.

However, the 22-year-old is continuing to draw on little tips he picked up from his 37-year-old friend and he hopes they will come in useful over the coming months in Division One.

"Some days I just wish Niall was here," said Kyle, who will line up against West Ham United this afternoon.

"Sometimes, like on Monday night after the draw with Coventry, I get really down about things because that was my worst performance of the season.

"But then I try to remember some things which Quinny used to say to me and it helps.

"It's a shame he left but that's life. I have to try to do things he has told me to do in the past.

"Quinny is a legend. Hopefully I will see him soon and he can give me a couple more words of advice. He used to tell me that I was jumping too early when I was losing headers against big centre-backs. Now I just have to think, when things go wrong for me, what would Quinny do?

"The answer is he would probably stand beside the big defender and give him an elbow or something!

"Maybe I should be doing that when I'm getting pushed! People think because I'm 6ft 4in I shouldn't be getting pushed.

"I think that I will have to get a little bit street-wise and do what he used to do and what Chris Sutton does up at Celtic. If I do that hopefully I will get a few more free-kicks."

Sunderland have been linked with numerous strikers in recent weeks with Kyle, Marcus Stewart and co struggling to grab the goals to shoot the club back to the Premiership.

Kyle has scored just one goal in ten matches, while Stewart has found the net only twice since September 13.

That form has led to Huddersfield's Jon Stead and Birmingham's Clinton Morrison being the subject of inquiries from the Sunderland boss, but no deals have been secured.

And Kyle, who could be partnered up front today by Tommy Smith or Michael Proctor, said: "If someone can come in and guarantee the 20 goals which would get us back into the Premier League then I'd welcome them.

"It hurts me because I know I'm working hard in training. If the manager brings someone in then it makes you even more determined to get your place.

"It could just help me to put in a hell of a performance and get back on the goals trail.

"I think if I'd scored a few more goals we would be top of the league and I'm sure Marcus would feel exactly the same way.

"I'm not going to hide from the fact that I have missed some sitters. I'll keep plugging away and I know that chances will fall to me and I will score.

"Confidence is important. Look at me, when I scored my six goals in seven games I was confident and it showed. I went to Sheffield United and scored the winner even though I played rubbish that day. But that's confidence. The ball came to me and I knew fine well I was going to put it in the bottom corner.

"But against Coventry at home, the ball fell to me and for that split-second I thought 'oh no'. That took my mind of it and the keeper saved it."

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy knows his side must halt an alarming run of form, which has seen them win just one of their last nine.

They have drawn their last three matches 1-1 and McCarthy is hoping for a victory today against a West Ham side who have won only one of their last 11 games.

But the Hammers welcome back star striker Jermain Defoe after a five-game absence, and McCarthy said: "They will be feeling pretty sore after the defeat to Stoke in midweek. They will be looking to improve results and they have the bonus of getting Defoe back.

"Alan Pardew (West Ham manager) will have worked very hard on his players.

"It should be an interesting game between two sides who would like to play football.

Right-back Dareen Williams is ruled out through suspension for Sunderland, while Jason McAteer and Paul Thirlwell are vying for the central midfield role vacated by broken leg victim Colin Healy