Gary Rowell: Why Victor Anichebe is more like a 21-year-old and could save Sunderland a fortune

It meant his arrival barely registered among the Sunderland fans.

However, after his stunning performance at Bournemouth on his first Premier League start for the club, he is the player all the fans are talking about.

He has given the team a different dimension with his physical presence and power.

One performance, no matter how good, can be a flash in the pan but if he can produce that form regularly, he may yet fulfil the early promise he showed at Everton.

He really was exceptional at the Vitality Stadium, scoring his first goal but also holding the ball up and working hard while freeing up Jermain Defoe who, for the first time this season, had someone to play off and share the load.

“I was particularly impressed how willingly he helped out defensively, especially the last five minutes when he was in the left-back position when we had our backs to the wall.

He left nothing on the pitch.

At 28, he has only made around 85 starts at club level which says something how he’s not made the most of his ability and physique but on the positive side, in terms of miles on the clock, he is more like a 21-year-old!

Anichebe could be one of those players who develops late and Niall Quinn always said that type of striker can have his best years late in his career when they learn what that position is all about.

I still think we needed to buy another striker in January but in the meantime, if Victor can follow his Bournemouth performance with more of the same, that department of the team might not be as bare as it seemed a week ago.