The Black Cats face Coventry City on Sunday in their first Championship game in over four years.
Alex Neil’s side will be hoping to get off to the best possible start in-front of their own fans and in-front of the TV cameras when they welcome Mark Robins’ side.
The hype surrounding the start of a new season is beginning to ramp up and of course with that, comes plenty of predictions about how the next 46 games will unfold for Sunderland and all of their new Championship rivals.
Here, we take a look at the Daily Mirror’s pre-season Championship predictions to see where they believe Sunderland will finish in the league.
Do these predictions shock you? How do you think Sunderland will do this season? Follow us on our social media channels and let us know your thoughts there.
9. West Brom (9th)
The appointment of Steve Bruce didn't bring the Baggies immediate success last season and they finished out of the playoff places. The Daily Mirror believe that they will suffer much the same fate next season and have to face yet another season in the second-tier. Photo: Pete Norton
10. Coventry City (10th)
Mark Robins continues to do a very impressive job at Coventry with his side now viewed as a potential disruptor to the top-six. The Daily Mirror believe that the Sky Blues will be there or thereabouts in the playoff picture next season - although they do tip them to fall narrowly short. Photo: Nathan Stirk
11. Blackburn Rovers (11th)
After years of Tony Mowbray, Blackburn enter the unknown this season under the guidance of Jon Dahl Tomasson. The Daily Mirror predict Rovers will finish in the top-half, but three positions lower than their 8th place finish last season. Photo: Ian MacNicol
12. Middlesbrough (12th)
Who knows where Boro would have finished last season had Chris Wilder been appointed manager earlier? As it was, they narrowly missed out on the playoffs and the Daily Mirror are predicting that will be as good as it gets for Boro and don’t believe they will be mixing it with the top-six this season. Photo: Nigel Roddis