Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon admits they need Darren Bent to continue his scoring form to arrest their slide.

Gordon feels the striking power of Bent can be the key to a Sunderland revival.

He said: "Darren is always capable of scoring. He is a great finisher. Give him a chance and he inevitably sticks it in the net.

"He is very unselfish. He will run the channels and even gave a penalty up earlier in the season to get Kenwyne Jones a goal.

"He is not one of those strikers who has a big head and think they are the main man.

"If he was to get on that plane to the World Cup he would be a great squad member."