The end of the season is nigh, and Sunderland have opened the voting for the club’s Player of the Season awards.
Still, it might be somewhat premature as Sunderland’s season could still go one of two ways: qualify for the play-offs and even secure promotion, it’s a good season, but miss out now and it’s a disaster.
And many fans might be fearing the latter after Sunderland’s 3-0 defeat at Coventry City last time out handed Regis Le Bris his biggest defeat in charge of the Black Cats, with Sunderland having not looked like play-off candidates at all in recent weeks.
Sunderland have won just two of their last six in the Championship now. But they remain in 4th place of the table and boast a 12 point cushion to Tony Mowbray’s West Brom in 6th, though with eight games left to play, anything could happen.
Fans have had plenty to say about certain players in recent weeks: Sunderland fans have been critical of Anthony Patterson for one, and after the game against Coventry City, Dan Neil received plenty of criticism for his performance too.
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Michael Graham backs Trai Hume and Jobe Bellingham for Sunderland awards
There’s certainly been some shining lights for Sunderland throughout this season though, two of which are Trai Hume and Jobe Bellingham. Both have been impressive for club and country in 2024/25 with Bellingham impressing with the England U21s this month, whereas Hume picked up an injury with Northern Ireland in what was a devasting blow for them and possibly for Sunderland too.
And now after Sunderland opened the voting for the club’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year award, journalist Michael Graham has given his verdict on the matter, backing Hume for the Player of the Year award and Bellingham for the Young Player of the Year award.
Graham posted on X below…
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Two alternative options for both Sunderland Player of the Year awards
There’s a handful of players who qualify for both awards. And there might be many supporters out there who think neither Hume or Bellingham are that deserving of the awards with both having had slight dips in form, albeit very slight in Hume’s case in particular.
But someone like Chris Mepham could be a candidate for the Player of the Year award; perhaps for how much of a pleasant surprise his signing has been. Then for the Young Player of the Year, Chris Rigg will definitely be in with a shout, after his standout season in the Championship.
On the whole though, Hume and Bellingham probably edge both awards.