Away from the first team, watching Graeme Murty’s under-21s play is very enjoyable with the youth side playing Europe this campaign and reaching the Premier League 2 play-off final last season.
The pathway at the Academy of Light has produced the likes of Dan Neil, Anthony Patterson, Tommy Watson and Chris Rigg in recent seasons, and we’re always on the lookout for the next cab of the rank.
Here, though, we profile 11 of Sunderland’s brightest stars and analyse who could follow Watson and Rigg into Régis Le Bris’ first-team set-up in the coming seasons:
5. Oli Bainbridge
The full-back, who has also played as a centre-back, is knocking on the door for first-team involevement having returned from a loan at Kilmarnock earlier this season. | Sunderland's Oli Bainbridge - Photo by Ben Cuthbertson Photo: Sunderland's Oli Bainbridge - Photo by Ben Cuthbertson
6. Harrison Jones
Harrison Jones has been fast-tracked to form part of Régis Le Bris' first-team squad already this season and has made three senior appearances across all competitions. | Ben Cuthbertson Photo: Ben Cuthbertson
7. Ben Middlemas
The former South Shields loanee possesses bags of quality in midfield areas and is one to watch for the future at Sunderland. | Ben Cuthbertson
8. Elias Lenz
The German midfielder has suffered a few injury issues but looks very assured on the ball when he does play for Murty's side. | Ben Cuthbertson Photo: Ben Cuthbertson