Sunderland are prepared for the Premier League once more, not many can deny that.
Greater than 40,000 individuals have packed the Stadium of Mild every week this season to look at Regis Le Bris’ group gentle up the championship.
4
Their younger group has undoubtedly been essentially the most thrilling to look at within the league to date, leaving them 5 factors forward of second place Burnley.
A 2-0 win in opposition to Oxford on the weekend was their most convincing win of the 2024/25 season to date and the largest warning to their rivals that they’re critical promotion contenders.
It has been a interval of turmoil for the Black Cats after leaving the Premier League in 2017, adopted by a direct relegation to the third tier.
Learn extra concerning the Championship
They solely returned to the championship in 2022 and completed in lowly sixteenth place final season.
There was additionally confusion within the dugout when Tony Mowbray began the season, earlier than being changed by Michael Beale in December. He was then fired simply two months later, after 4 wins in 12.
Mike Dodds took over on an interim foundation for the rest of the season and proprietor Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, 26, took his time choosing the proper man.
Le Bris was signed from Lorient and has confirmed to be an astute signing.
“I believe that man deserves quite a lot of credit score as a result of every thing is so thrilling proper now,” Sunderland legend Niall Quinn informed talkSPORT.
“These gamers have come collectively and are enjoying with out worries and it’s as if he has introduced a brand new id to the group in such a short while.
“They really feel actually comfy within the Sunderland shirt. Enjoying in Sunderland in entrance of an expectant public and, above all, taking into consideration that lately we’ve got not gotten there, shouldn’t be straightforward.”
4
What has made this Sunderland group so thrilling is their spine of younger expertise. The typical age of their group this season has been 23.1 years outdated, with Sheffield United the following closest at 24.
Wonderkid Chris Rigg has been pursued by the likes of Manchester United, whereas Jude Bellingham’s youthful brother Jobe is growing into a significant expertise.
On Bellingham, talkSPORT’s Adrian Clarke stated: “We’re undoubtedly seeing him mature this season underneath Regis LeBris. Earlier than this season, nobody actually knew what to make of Jobe Bellingham, was he a striker? Is he a deep midfielder? A box-for-box sort of factor? What’s he?
4
“I perceive your level about his physique language and he has a languid model, however he’s a really gifted participant. There isn’t any doubt about that.
“The purpose he scored on the weekend is a purpose he can rating time and again. He made that run from the midfielder and scored a stupendous header.
“I believe he can try this, Dele Alli model, ghosting in from that box-to-box function. “He’s starting to develop his apparent potential.”
Sunderland hero Micky Grey admitted he did not count on his former group to be so good this season.
4
He believes that promotion could be achieved this season.
Grey informed talkSPORT: “It is unbelievable. I have to say that I didn’t count on it. If you preserve dropping your greatest gamers or considered one of your greatest gamers, Jack Clarke misplaced to Ipswich, no person anticipated issues to show round, however the kids they’ve in the intervening time are producing each week.
“Chris Rigg and Bellingham in midfield have been completely distinctive.
“Crucial factor they’ve is that they’ve a five-point hole on the high of the desk in the intervening time.
“Everybody expects Burnley, Leeds United and perhaps Sheffield United to do nicely within the second half of the season, but when they preserve profitable then Sunderland will give themselves each likelihood, they’ve been completely good.”
There are nonetheless 34 video games left within the season, but when they will proceed, we could quickly see a Tyne-Put on derby within the Premier League.
Quinn believes soccer followers within the North East will wish to see Sunderland again within the high flight.
He added: “It was an unbelievable place when all three groups (Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland) had been there. I suppose the kind of fan who simply cannot stand any of the opposite golf equipment would not wish to see that, however the soccer individuals there would like to see it.
“And who is aware of, it might come again someday, however I do know it will be higher for your entire area if there have been three video games.”
Sunderland are subsequent in Championship motion in opposition to QPR on Saturday.
