But just how often has a Black Cats player – or Sunderland themselves - reaped the benefits of swapping reserve or junior team football on Wearside for a baptism in senior football elsewhere? Here are 11 Sunderland players for whom life after being borrowed was anything but blue. Scroll down click through the pages to find out who Ethan Robson can look to for some motivation:
9. George Honeyman
After impressing in a nine-game loan spell at Gateshead in autumn 2015, Honeyman took a while to truly establish himself at the Stadium of Light, appearing in the final game of that Premier League season and making a handful of top-flight outings in the 2016-17 relegation campaign. But the midfielder was one of very few players to emerge with any credit as Sunderland then dropped straight out of the Championship, and was named as club captain for the 2018-19 League One season. After the League One play-off final heartache, Honeyman left for Hull this summer in a £400,000 deal. Photo: Frank Reid
10. Adam Matthews
Matthews arrived at Sunderland in 2015 with decent pedigree at Cardiff and Celtic, but struggled to make any Premier League impact at the Stadium of Light. But two loan spells loan spells at Bristol City seemed to invigorate the Welshman, and he became a first-team regular under Chris Coleman after returning to Wearside. After failing to help Sunderland get out of League One last season, Matthews was released, but has landed on his feet at their promotion play-off conquerors Charlton. Photo: Jack Thomas
11. Daryl Murphy
Striker Murphy arrived at Sunderland in 2005 after a prolific spell with Irish side Waterford, but only began to impress for the Black Cats after a four-game loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Having become a regular and played 110 games, scoring 14 times, across a five-year spell on Wearside, Murphy left for Celtic and then Ipswich, was surprisingly signed by Rafa Benitez for Newcastle in 2016, and then played for Nottingham Forest before pitching up at League One strugglers Bolton last month. Photo: Patrick Bolger