KEVIN PHILLIPS last night earmarked Sunderland's next two Premiership games as the defining moment in their season.

Sunderland head into two home fixtures in five days, against Southampton and Charlton Athletic, at least two points away from safety.

Their form at the Stadium of Light, where they won just five of their 20 games in 2002, is likely to determine their Premiership fate. But Phillips refused to be maudlin after their latest defeat, at Everton on Saturday, and instead looked forward to the return from injury of Sunderland's walking wounded ahead of the visit of Southampton on January 28.

He said: "We have two home games coming up after the FA Cup and they are big ones for us.

"We are looking forward to having back-to-back home games and, if we can get maximum points from them, things will look a lot different. Six points would lift us right up the table.

"So it's not all doom and gloom. It's nip and tuck and, if you can go on a little run, it can change everything.

"Give it until the end of this week and the beginning of next week, and we should have the majority of the injured players back to full fitness.

"Claudio Reyna is probably the only long-term absentee. Him aside, we should have the whole squad fit soon, which will give the manager problems in terms of selection.

"It will also give everyone a lift to have quality players who have been out injured coming back and challenging for a place. That will be good for the club and will help us as a team."

Phillips was impressed with Sean Thornton on his League debut for Sunderland after the midfielder gave an encouraging display during which he went close with one early shot.

The return of some of the Black Cats' big names from injury is likely to see 19-year-old Thornton slip down the pecking order.

But Phillips, Sunderland's captain again on Saturday as Michael Gray was an unused substitute, insisted Thornton has a promising future.

The striker said: "Sean did exceptionally well against Bolton and warranted his start at Everton, and he didn't disappoint.

"I felt a bit sorry for him because this was a massive game for him to come into.

"But these are the sorts of games where you have to show what you can do if you want to make something of your career. He did that and he was one of our plusses."

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