I always believed Anichebe would come good, says Moyes

Cape Town - Sunderland manager David Moyes feels Victor Anichebe can finally realise his Premier League potential after starring in their first league win of the season.

After being released by West Bromwich Albion in the off season, many expected the robust forward to drop down to the Championship to rekindle a once promising career that kicked off under Moyes at Everton.

Anichebe was touted as a future star in England after making his reserve team and first team debut's for the Toffees at 15 and 16-years-old respectively. But after a series of injuries that prevented the striker to have a consistent run in the first team - his career and goal scoring dwindled.

A return of 24 goals and 17 assists in 189 games was dismal reading, especially for the Black Cats faithful when Moyes decided to sign the 28-year-old after failing to secure a striker during the transfer window.

Now after scoring on his full first-team debut and winning a penalty for Jermaine Defoe in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, his manager claims it was never a gamble to keep him in the English top-flight.

"I always felt because we had gone past deadline day we hadn't a striker, so it was always in the back of my mind if we could bring Victor in," he told the Sunderland Echo.

"We'd have liked to have added another striker, but it wasn't meant to be.

"Victor was an option I always had in the back of my mind, someone who could give us a presence and hold the ball up. He's a big striker to go, at times, alongside Jermain.

"His goalscoring record wasn't what I was bringing him for, because I had Jermain. I felt that if I had someone as a presence alongside him that would help and to give us an alternative, someone we can bring off the bench, someone who can do a job.

"There weren't many takers for him in the summer, but I have always had faith in Victor. He's got more than what he shows.

"Sometimes people don't recognise he's actually a very good player."