REPUBLIC of Ireland international Jason McAteer - desperate to avoid the agony of Premiership relegation - has told his Sunderland teammates before the crucial game at Charlton: "Let's sort it out."

The 30-year-old Merseysider, who was sidelined by injury when his former club Blackburn Rovers crashed out of the top flight, will return from injury at The Valley, where the Wearsiders can make sure of escaping the drop by winning their first game in London this season.

Ipswich Town have put pressure on Peter Reid's men by creeping within two points after beating Middlesbrough 1-0 at home in midweek. And if Sunderland fail to beat Charlton today George Burley's side could climb above Sunderland by beating Manchester United at Portman Road - a televised game with a 5.35pm kick-off.

McAteer admitted: "We were sleeping easily until Ipswich beat Middlesbrough - it was a big game for Ipswich and they managed to scrape a result.

"They've got two tough games left against Manchester United and Liverpool, but we've got a job to do and we need to take points from Charlton and Derby County - I'd rather be in our position than Ipswich's.

"But we must assume that Ipswich will win their last two games even though they are so difficult."

He added: "It's been one of those seasons where we've not always got what we have deserved out of games; it hasn't gone to plan and we've had some disappointing results which have put us in a position we shouldn't be in.

"We've got to sort it out and we will be going out to win against Charlton who, to be fair to them, are not really playing well.

"It could be all over for Ipswich by Saturday night if we win and they don't and that's what we're hoping for."

McAteer believes that because of their later kick-off Ipswich will go into their game with a psychological disadvantage if they know Sunderland have won at Charlton. He said: "If we win it's a bit of added pressure for them. They'd know they had to win then. But I don't know why they have all these strange kick-off times. Whatever happened to 3 o'clock on a Saturday?

"But I've seen it all change during my 11 years in the game - they even have Thursday football these days.

"Television and the Premier League try to make it as exciting as they can for the punters by changing times and we've just got to do as we're told and fit in.

"It's good for the neutrals but for the players it's added pressure."

He added: "The last round of games all kick-off at the same time on the last day of the season, but maybe it would be better if this happened for the teams' final three games of the season."

McAteer, who missed the game at West Ham and also the international friendly against the United States in Dublin, is confident he will be able to play his part in Sunderland's fight for survival.

He said: "At Blackburn I was injured for six months when they went down.

"There was a different mentality there - they resigned themselves to relegation there and it was hard to pick the lads up.

"Here it's different. There's a positive mentality and the lads are up for the game at Charlton.

"Relegation isn't something that is talked about by the lads. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out the situation we're in and I'm sure everyone appreciates the situation - but there's no talk of relegation."

He added: "I've been involved in end-of-the-season games where there's been nothing to play for and that was a pain - though I'd rather have that than our current situation!

"It just hasn't gone for us this season but hopefully we can secure safety at Charlton and then build for next season. I'm sure there'll be some good players coming in who can help us get into Europe."

McAteer also hit back at suggestions that the Sunderland coaching set-up is not up to scratch.

He said: "Bobby Saxton is very clued up and his coaching's fantastic. The credentials are there. Let's not forget where Sunderland were six years ago - why all of a sudden is the coaching wrong?

"I can't understand why some people are saying the coaching's wrong.

"People are very pessimistic, but with six points from these last two games we could end up in a half-decent position.

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