DICK ADVOCAAT has dropped the biggest hint yet that he could be persuaded to stay at Sunderland – by predicting talks over his future will take place once the relegation fight is over.

Advocaat only initially accepted the challenge of keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League and his short term deal is due to expire at the end of the campaign.

And he has made no secret of the fact his family hopes he sticks to the original plan of retiring at the end of this contract. At the start of the week he also suggested the Sunderland post would be his last in football.

But the 67-year-old has settled in to the manager’s office at the Wearside club and he has not completely ruled out staying on longer after winning three of his six games in charge.

He is planning to discuss the situation with sporting director Lee Congerton and owner Ellis Short when Sunderland know what division they will be in.

Asked whether he will have talks, Advocaat said: “How can I say this? I think so, yes. I can't say much about it, because we'll have to see what happens in the next 14 days and then I'll come back on that.”

He added: "It's definitely the case that I enjoy it here. We're really enjoying what we're doing. I realise there's a lot to do with this club, but the main priority is that the club has to stay up and then making sure it has the right set up for next season.”

Advocaat is too experienced to know that Sunderland are not safe yet. Even if he does oversee another win over Leicester City today, Hull City could still overtake them if they win at Tottenham.

But if Sunderland stay up he has realised in the short time he has been at the helm that there is plenty of potential.

"The owner was here on Monday, and he talked about that as well,” said Advocaat. “He was very excited about everything. He hopes in the future, he can watch more to the left than to the right (Sunderland attacking more) that says enough about what he wants.

"On days like the Newcastle game, you can feel what this club is about. We need that against Leicester as well. The fans have to be the same as they were in the last couple of weeks.

“We know that we have to do better than we did against Palace, Leicester play in a similar way to them, so we know what we can expect. There's only one thing that counts, we have to win. Even a draw isn't enough to be safe. Let's put it that way.”

The former Rangers and PSV Eindhoven boss added: “This is the best competition in the world, I would say, with so many games and so many people coming. This is a big club. A lot has to be done to make it more consistent. That's the most important thing they have to think about.”

Advocaat has already got thoughts on what is required to take Sunderland up a level, although he thinks it is pointless discussing those until it has been determined whether they will be in the Championship again for the first time since 2007.

He said: “Yes I do know, but that all depends on which league you're playing in, there's so much to do with the squad, so it's difficult to discuss that now, not knowing what will happen, but I have ideas, a lot of ideas.”

If Sunderland are to stay up then they have to finish off the job without in-form midfielder Jordi Gomez and defender Wes Brown. Both have been ruled out of the final few games due to a fractured kneecap and knee problem respectively.

Skipper John O’Shea will slot back in to the heart of the defence alongside Sebastien Coates, while Liam Bridcutt could replace Gomez alongside Lee Cattermole and Seb Larsson in the middle.

Whoever Advocaat fields, the Dutchman is satisfied the team will be prepared having been impressed by the squad’s performance since taking over from Gus Poyet in February.

He said: "There must be a reason why Sunderland are playing at the bottom of the league every year. But I knew when they asked me to come what we could expect. Right from the start the squad have been positive about the way they've trained.

"They've given 100 per cent and every exercise you give them to do they are really up. I can also feel every week during the games, the results if you have six games and win three of them in that period, it tells you enough that something is growing in that squad.”

But Advocaat, looking for three straight wins, is not prepared to accept all the plaudits for the turnaround himself; even though it was pointed out to him that Sunderland would be sixth in a projected Premier League table based on results under him.

He said: "Why? Good players, probably. If you play ten games in the league you have to win at least three or four, this team had only won four in 26, that's why we're playing here in this position. That's what the club has to improve.”