CAMEROON international Patrick Mboma stands to win a long-term contract at Sunderland by helping the Wearsiders sweep away lingering relegation fears at West Ham on Saturday.

The striker, who missed the 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool with an ankle injury, could be called upon to renew his partnership with Kevin Phillips at Upton Park.

Veteran Niall Quinn is struggling to play in London, where Sunderland will be trying to end an embarrassing run of four consecutive defeats this season, after picking up a neck muscle injury late in the game against the Merseysiders.

Quinn has had to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland's friendly against the United States in Dublin tomorrow night and is facing a race against the clock to make the trip to West Ham.

His absence could provide the perfect opportunity for Mboma to convince Sunderland manager Peter Reid that his loan from Italian Serie A side Parma should be made permanent.

So far, however, Mboma has scored only one goal in five starts, in the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham at the beginning of last month.

Mboma said: "I know I have to do well in the remaining few games, but I don't feel under any pressure.

"I have confidence in my ability - I was voted African Player of the Year - and I know that I can be an important player for a club.

"It is up to me to do great things on the pitch to make things happen and I am confident that I can do that in the remaining games."

Mboma, who might have cleared away relegation fears if he had equalised when presented with a simple chance at Leeds earlier this month, has settled in well at Sunderland and would love a long-term contract.

He said: "When I first came to Sunderland I said I had come to play well and win a permanent place at the club and my feelings on that have not changed.

"The more time I spend at Sunderland the more convinced I am that I made the right decision and the more I want to earn a transfer to the club."

He added: "In the remaining three games we have time to build up confidence - I have the chance to give the team confidence and I intend to do that."

Mboma, who was leading scorer as Cameroon won the recent African Nations Cup, is expected to be a leading member of his country's World Cup squad.

But he intends to put all thoughts of possible World Cup glory to the back of his mind as he concentrates on helping Sunderland secure their Premiership safety. He said: "Thoughts of the World Cup will not affect me at all - Sunderland's remaining games are the one I intend to concentrate on and give my very best.'

Read more about Sunderland here.