Sunderland U21s won 7-1 in Europe with Dennis Cirkin, Dan Neil and Luke O’Nien in the side
Sunderland have been warned that their strong start to life back in the Premier League could fall apart very quickly.
The Black Cats are back in the top-flight for the first time since 2016 after winning last season’s Championship play-off final, and they’ve adapted brilliantly, sitting fourth after 11 games with 19 points, five wins, and just two defeats on the board.
Regis Le Bris’ men have picked up some eye-catching results, including a 2-1 win away at Chelsea and scoring late to hold leaders Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light just before the international break.
Nedum Onuoha praises ‘fantastic’ Sunderland and Regis Le Bris
Onuoha is very familiar with the expectations placed on Sunderland players, having made 32 appearances for the club on loan from Manchester City during the 2010/11 campaign - helping the Black Cats finish 10th under Steve Bruce.
The former defender has praised the raft of new arrivals that joined the club in the summer for how quickly they’ve become a part of the fabric of Sunderland, as well as the defensive resilience put in place by Le Bris.
However, Onuoha - a former England youth international - did end his assessment with a warning about how quickly things can turn sour in the Premier League.
"From the moment they started to bring in more players, you started to wonder if it will all gel together? Will they understand what it's like to play for Sunderland, what it's like to be up there and what it's like to be an underdog and so on. And ultimately, they have done,” Onuoha told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"It looks like the players have been buying into what it means to play for the club. And the manager as well, I think he's doing a fantastic job. The way they have played makes them very tough to beat. I think their defensive record shows that. They are not an easy team to play against, and at times, opposition teams underestimate them. I have been very impressed. At the moment, it is maxing out the potential, but things could turn in an instant."
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What next for Sunderland?
As mentioned, Sunderland’s draw against Arsenal leaves them fourth in the table, already nine points clear of the relegation zone and just three adrift of Man City in second.
The Black Cats travel to Fulham on 22nd November when the Premier League returns from the last international break of 2025.
An incredibly tough run then follows, with Sunderland hosting high-flying Bournemouth, travelling to champions Liverpool, then to Man City, and then taking on Newcastle United at home in the first Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League since 2016.
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