David Moyes issues warning ahead of the return of key Sunderland trio

Jan Kirchhoff is back in full training and in line for a return to the squad to face Burnley in Saturday’s crucial Premier League clash, but Victor Anichebe and Lee Cattermole won’t be back for at least another three weeks.

With games running out for Sunderland – six points adrift of safety at the foot of the table – Moyes needs his key men back to bolster the flagging fight for survival.

But the Black Cats boss says expectations need to be measured when they do return, given the length of time all three have been out.

Kirchhoff hasn’t played since December, with striker Anichebe ruled out since January. Midfielder Cattermole has only played three games all season.

Moyes said: “I’m hoping to get Victor back at the beginning of April – we’re looking at around another three weeks.

“Could he back? I hope so, but I’m not quite convinced.

“There’s a chance Lee Cattermole could be back in three weeks – I’m not convinced but I’m hoping so. We’d be hoping then for Kirchhoff certainly.

“The thing is people have been out injured, you can’t expect them to come back and hit the ground running, they’ve been out so long. They’ve missed so much.

“For them to make the difference is not an easy thing to do – they’ve missed most of the season.”

Cattermole has been out since the Autumn after undergoing hip surgery in the US after a specialist found he was suffering from torn cartilage in his hip.

The influential midfielder, a major loss in Sunderland’s season-long battle against the drop, suffered a setback in his recovery last month when he needed an injection in his Achilles.

He has only featured a handful of times and Moyes remains hopeful he will have him back for the run-in, although the Sunderland boss remains cautious.

On Cattermole, Moyes added: “That’s the problem, we might not have the three games to give him to find his yard, so we might need to find that another way.”

Anichebe – who was a key factor in the spell of four wins out of seven games in November and December – was ruled out for 10 weeks with knee ligament damage in late January.

Sunderland’s attacking threat has been hit by his absence, with the powerful forward having linked up well with 14-goal top scorer Jermain Defoe.

The 28-year-old has been working hard in the gym and on the exercise bike, while also spending time in the US city of Philadelphia on his road to recovery.

Kirchhoff, who has been back in full training for three weeks, made his long-awaited comeback against Manchester United Under-23s last Monday night.

The German, who suffered a cartilage tear in his knee in December, played 64 minutes in the 3-1 defeat but was not involved in yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City.

Kirchhoff was one of four first-team players to feature for the Under-23s last week but neither he, Lynden Gooch, George Honeyman or Donald Love were involved yesterday.

The first-team squad had been given a few days off ahead of preparations for Burnley stepping up this week.