Sunderland are preparing for their first European game in over 50 years when they welcome AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday night

Tom Burwell has urged Sunderland fans to showcase the city as the club hosts its first European game for over 50 years on Wednesday night.

In an interview with inews, the club's interim CEO urged fans to make the difference for their team and said the Europa League was a big opportunity to show its progress to the world.

“This is the first time for a generation [in Europe] and I keep saying to supporters ‘Don’t just enjoy it, come along and play your part’,” Burwell said.

“I talk a lot about exporting Sunderland to the world and the opening commentary on Match of the Day on Saturday talked of the Stadium of Light being a cauldron. It’s hugely important European commentators are saying the same after the four games we have here and I think they will be.

“I don’t think there was an arena in the Premier League like ours this past weekend. Arsenal and their players and coaching staff thought they’d done very well to get a win because the Stadium of Light was our 12th man. So there is a big calling to our fans – let’s represent the city, play the role we can play and roar our players on to success this week.”

Burwell also as part of the interview teased a special pre-match show at the ground, which club insiders believe will be unique both for the club and for the competition.

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Tom Burwell drops latest stadium hint

Sunderland's interim CEO also dropped another strongest hint yet that the club are not imminently considering an expansion of the Stadium of Light.

A long-debated topic on Wearside has come firmly back into focus since the club's promotion back to the Premier League and subsequent success, which has seen demand for tickets soar. Tom Burwell hinted to The Echo in an interview earlier this year that the club were focusing on improving the current facilities within the ground rather than an expansion in the short term, and

“You have to be really careful with that,” Burwell said.

“Of course we’ve always got an eye on how we improve the stadium experience for everyone. How do we ensure, for example, that as many people in the city are getting in to access an appropriate ticket and getting value for money?

“That’s whether they’re joining us for our double Michelin star restaurant Banks on the Wear or whether they’re a general admission season-ticket holder. I recognise some of the challenges we have with inventory and a stadium that was built 30 years ago but we also have to recognise we’re in year two of the Premier League.

“There’s a reality that comes with that so you look at things over the short, medium and long-term and do so via the lens of not only where you are but where you’re going. We also have to recognise this is the Premier League, the hardest league in the world, and there are challenges that come with that as well as opportunities.”

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