Sunderland have had a whirlwind start to the new campaign, and one player is set to be rewarded internationally for his efforts.
For many of Sunderland’s first-team squad, they could not have wished for a better start to the new campaign.
Under Regis Le Bris, the club won all four of their first Championship fixtures, renewing hopes for Premier League football in the near future.
One factor that has been a particular stand out has been the defence. So far, the club have only conceded one league goal, an OG late on against Portsmouth.
As a result, the Sunderland backline has been widely praised with Trai Hume now receiving recognition on the international stage.
Trai Hume set to captain Northern Ireland for the first time against Luxembourg
The first international break of the season is now underway. Despite only being four games into the new Championship campaign, countries across Europe are preparing to compete in the Nations League.
One such country is Northern Ireland which will face Luxembourg and Bulgaria in the upcoming fixtures.
Northern Ireland have been without a captain since Man United centre-back Jonny Evans retired from international duty.
As the search continues for a replacement, manager Michael O’Neill now plans to give Hume a shot as he praises the young defender.
“Not many players come out of the Irish League and step into English football and play with that level of consistency,” O’Neill said.
“He may not be the captain at Sunderland but he is a leader. I’ve no hesitation in saying he will do a good job.”
Read more: How much Sunderland actually received for Jack Clarke.
Trai Hume deserves Northern Ireland captaincy honour
Hume has been fantastic at Sunderland in recent years. Even in the last campaign when Sunderland completely collapsed, the defender was part of a backline that remained strong.
This has continued into the current season as he continues to consolidate his position as a major part of the team.
On Thursday night when Northern Ireland takes on Luxembourg, there is no doubt that Hume will do a fantastic job as the nation looks to win their group.
The experience will certainly help progress the defender’s ability on and off the field as he continues to develop.