Sunderland are on course to finish inside the top six of the Championship this season, securing what would be a second play-off finish in three seasons back in the second tier.
Sunderland remain in 4th place of the Championship table despite a 3-0 defeat at Coventry City last time out. And Regis Le Bris’ side retain a comfortable 12 point gap to Tony Mowbray’s West Brom down in 6th.
All signs point towards a play-off finish for the Black Cats in Le Bris’ first season at the Stadium of Light. But the Frenchman won’t count on his side cruising towards a play-off place, especially with form having been poor of late.
Sunderland have won just two of their last six in the league and there’s been some players coming under the spotlight for their poor individual form, with Sunderland fans critical of Dan Neil‘s performance against Coventry in particular.
Others, like Chris Rigg for example, has also faced critics, though it’s largely agreed that the Sunderland players simply need a break.
Marco Gabbiadini urges Sunderland to make promotion changes
Speaking on Total Sport, Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini has been discussing the club’s current form and the chances of promotion. And he revealed that he spoke with another club legend, Jim Montgomery, about the changes that Sunderland would need to make to the playing squad should they earn promotion this season.
Gabbiadini highlighted Rigg, suggesting that he wouldn’t be able to cope with the rigours of a Premier League campaign. He said: “I had this debate at the club last week when I was there with Jim Montgomery and a few other people, about getting promotion. I think we should really grab the chance at getting promotion, I don’t think there’s a downside to it. But I do think there would have to be quite a few changes.
“Even players like Rigg. He’s definitely got a great future ahead, but is he ready for the Premier League and playing 30 games in the Premier League next season? That would be a big ask. And we would have to, for me, spend a bit of money and bring a few players in.”
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Sunderland already have a big-money summer signing lined up
Many fans will agree with Gabbiadini that this current Sunderland side would need a lot of work done in the summer, should they earn promotion. Already in the Championship the Black Cats are struggling against some of the teams lower down in the table.
Kristjaan Speakman would need to add depth and quality to his ranks. But if the Black Cats are promoted then that’ll trigger the £20million signing of Enzo Le Fee on a permanent deal from Roma, and that’s exactly the kind of signing Sunderland would need more of.
How many of those signings the Black Cats could make would remain to be seen. But it’d be the perfect time for Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to really invest some money in the side, in a bid to avoid an immediate relegation.
But right now, Sunderland need to focus on their games ahead. The Black Cats face Millwall in the Championship later in the month.