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:
9. Timur Tutierov
A very willing runner on the wing. Showed flashes of quality but wasn't as productive as some of Sunderland's other players with the ball. Very strong in the tackle though. 6 | Ben Cuthbertson Photo: Ben Cuthbertson
10. Dan Cameron
The promising youth goalkeeper is currently on loan with Hebburn Town but has proven himself a good shot-stopper with the 21s. | Photo by Ben Cuthbertson
11. Zak Johnson
The defender has played for Sunderland's first team in cup competitions and is currently out on loan with Notts County in League Two. | Ben Cuthbertson Photo: Ben Cuthbertson
12. Jenson Jones
Jenson Jones can play at right-back, left-back, in midfield and was even moved to left-wing during a recent under-21s game. | Cuthbertson