Rob Mason: Bailey Wright and Aiden O'Brien are a welcome boost as Phil Parkinson aims to emulate Denis Smith

The decision to end last term in the manner it was curtailed took away what was still a good chance of promotion.

Remember Sunderland were just three points off an automatic promotion place with 10 games to play when the season was ended – albeit promotion rivals had a game in hand.

Phil Parkinson has simply got to put together a promotion winning side.

Given the possibility that subsequent waves of Coronavirus could conceivably see the season curtailed again Sunderland have got to get into the top two positions and stay there.

We have had too much of trying to be the nice guys attempting to show some class, while week after week opponents have tried every trick in the book to claim the biggest scalp in the division.

I expect to see a meaner, more menacing Sunderland.

We played our way out of this league under Denis Smith in 1987-88, but whether we can play our way out of it or have to simply get out of it in the ugliest of fashions we simply have to get promoted this time.

I don’t know much about Aiden O’Brien, the forward signed from Millwall but he’s been playing a level above League One and is a full international.

While I’m not expecting him to be a world beater he looks like a decent calibre signing and has to be worth a chance.

Perhaps by the time you read this Sunderland will have continued strengthening.

Building a team is something every Sunderland manager throughout history has had to do.

In the new book, ‘Sunderland: The Absolute Record’ I’ve been working on with Mike Gibson and Barry Jackson, one of the things we’ve tried to do is show how teams have been built in the past.

Part of the record of each and every one of Sunderland’s league seasons since 1890 shows each campaign’s major signings, as well as recording the debuts of players who have come through the ranks.

The 400 page large format hardback will be the most comprehensive book ever published on SAFC when it comes out at the beginning of November.

It costs £30 and if ordered before the end of this month your name – or the name of someone you are buying it for – will be added to the book. To do this go to www.safctheabsoluterecord.co.uk where you can pay by card or by posting a cheque.

Sunderland: The Absolute Record is not the only book I’ve been working on.

Already out on kindle and due for release in paperback on Monday is an unofficial biography I’ve written on Jordan Henderson, called, ‘Hendo: The Jordan Henderson Story’.

This traces the Herrington lad’s career from playing for Fulwell Juniors as a six year old to lifting the Premier League trophy.

Jordan is a great player and a great lad who deserves all the success he has earned.