Phil Smith

Trai Hume playing for Sunderland against Luton Town.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Luton loss Phil Smith

Pierre Ekwah playing for Sunderland against Luton Town.

Phil Smith's player ratings after first leg win over Luton Phil Smith

Pierre Ekwah playing for Sunderland

Phil Smith's player ratings after convincing Preston win - including two 9s Phil Smith

Luke O'Nien playing for Sunderland against Watford.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Watford draw Phil Smith

Dennis Cirkin playing for Sunderland against West Brom. Photo: Ian Horrocks.

Phil Smith's player ratings after West Brom win - including one 9 Phil Smith

Joe Gelhardt playing for Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Huddersfield draw Phil Smith

Patrick Roberts playing for Sunderland against Birmingham.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Birmingham win Phil Smith

Lynden Gooch playing for Sunderland against Cardiff City.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Cardiff win Phil Smith

Amad Diallo playing for Sunderland against Hull City.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Hull draw - including two 9s Phil Smith

Patrick Roberts and Alex Pritchard salute the travelling support

The key lessons from an encouraging night for SAFC Phil Smith

Lynden Gooch playing for Sunderland against Burnley. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Phil Smith's player ratings after Burnley draw - including one 9 Phil Smith

Jewison Bennette's remarkable introduction at Watford - one of the highlights of the season

The highs and lows of SAFC's season so far - and the lessons to learn Phil Smith

Luke O'Nien playing for Sunderland against Luton.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Luton draw - including one 9 Phil Smith

Patrick Roberts playing for Sunderland against Sheffield United

Phil Smith's player rating after Sheffield United defeat Phil Smith

Sunderland fans celebrate Abdoullah Ba's goal against Norwich City

Phil Smith: The difficult task Tony Mowbray faces & what he'll need in future Phil Smith

Danny Batth playing for Sunderland at Norwich.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Norwich win Phil Smith

Sunderland fell to a heavy defeat against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon

Your key questions on SAFC form, potential changes & transfers answered Phil Smith

Trai Hume during Sunderland's match against Stoke.

Phil Smith's player rating after heavy Stoke defeat Phil Smith

Sunderland boss Alex Neil returns to Wearside this weekend

Phil Smith: SAFC are on an upward curve but Alex Neil's legacy still huge Phil Smith

Coventry vs Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Coventry City defeat Phil Smith

Luke O'Nien playing for Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Rotherham defeat Phil Smith

Patrick Roberts playing for Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Bristol City draw Phil Smith

Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Picture by FRANK REID

Phil Smith's player rating after QPR win Phil Smith

Daniel Ballard playing for Sunderland against Swansea.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Swansea defeat Phil Smith

Dan Neil playing for Sunderland at Shrewsbury. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Phil Smith's player ratings after Shrewsbury win - including two 8s Phil Smith

Amad playing for Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Blackpool draw Phil Smith

Abdoullah Ba playing for Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after emphatic Wigan win Phil Smith

Ross Stewart scores for Sunderland.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Blackburn win Phil Smith

Sunderland fans.

Sunderland fans deliver strong contract message Richard Mennear

Ross Stewart celebrates after scoring against Hull City.

Phil Smith's player ratings as two Cats man earns 8s in Hull draw Phil Smith

Omar Bugiel of Sutton United holds off Dan Barlaser of Rotherham United during the Papa John's Trophy Final. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Sunderland's rivals Middlesbrough target ex-Newcastle United man in January Richard Mennear

Amad Diallo's goal for Sunderland against Millwall.

Phil Smith's player ratings as FOUR Cats men earn 8s in Millwall win Phil Smith

Sunderland returned to action on Friday afternoon - including Aji Alese

The Sunderland AFC player ratings- this is who impressed in Dubai friendly Phil Smith

Amad Diallo of Sunderland celebrates scoring their side's second goal against Birmingham City. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Phil Smith's player ratings after Birmingham win Phil Smith

Sunderland vs Cardiff City.

Phil Smith's player ratings as two Cats men get 4s in Cardiff defeat Phil Smith

Amad Diallo scoring for Sunderland (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)

Phil Smith's player rating photos as star man earns 8 in Huddersfield win Phil Smith

Abdoullah Ba

Phil Smith's player rating as Alex Bass scores dramatic equaliser at Newcastle Phil Smith

Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson punches the ball away. Picture by FRANK REID

Phil Smith's player ratings after Luton draw Phil Smith

Elliot Embleton playing for Sunderland against Burnley.

Phil Smith's player ratings after Burnley defeat Phil Smith

Jack Clarke

Phil Smith's player rating photos as Cats lose at Blackburn Phil Smith

Dennis Cirkin

Phil Smith's player ratings after Wigan win Phil Smith

Anthony Patterson.

Phil Smith's player rating following Swansea defeat Phil Smith

Chris Maxwell saves from Jack Clarke

Tony Mowbray's honest assessment on a frustrating night for SAFC Phil Smith