Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce feels Jermain Defoe will always give Sunderland the chance to stay up.
The striker's goals were the difference between relegation and survival for Sunderland last season.
Allardyce said: "I would say he is on a par with Nicolas Anelka (as the best striker I have worked with), which is a big statement. I would imagine that Jermain at 26, as Nicolas was when I got him, was probably as good.
"I am trying to follow the exact same programme now. We have got Christian (Benteke) with 11 (goals). Could he get 15, 16, 17? He could be our saviour. Different type, but he is a goalscorer."