Journalists have heaped the praise on one Sunderland star after his recent remarkable achievement.
Looking at Sunderland’s 2024/25 Championship form, there are several players that can be pin-pointed as the reason for success this season.
Regis Le Bris has certainly got the best out of a side that isn’t massively different in regards to personnel to the side that finished in a plucky 16th position in the 2023/24 campaign.
The main improvement for the Black Cats has been in terms of tangible product in the final third as Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda have added a, not always consistent, but still existent goal threat that they didn’t have last season, whilst the defensive ranks have also improved.
In fact, one Sunderland defender has gone under the radar this season, and it has been highlighted how much of a bargain he has been after reaching his three-year milestone at the club.
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Sunderland journalists praise Trai Hume as he hits three-year milestone
The Black Cats’ defence has been much more solid this season, and much of that comes down to the addition of Chris Mepham at centre-back.
However, there has also been a gulf of difference in the quality of the full-back’s this season compared to last, with Trai Hume certainly embodying that.
He has been praised by James Copley, via X, where he has referred to the 22-year-old as an ‘absolute bargain’, whilst Michael Graham said: “[It] still blows my mind that we got Trai Hume for less money than we received for Denver Hume.”
Hume arrived on Wearside three years ago from Northern Irish side Linfield for just up to £200,000, a real bargain considering the quality of the defender, as he currently ranks as the 3rd best Sunderland player this season on average rating, per SofaScore.
Trai Hume quality shows that fans must be patient with Kristjaan Speakman signings
In hindsight, the signing of Hume certainly must be regarded as a fantastic piece of business done by Kristjaan Speakman, paying a six-figure fee for a full-back that certainly could warrant a £10million fee based on his and Sunderland’s current form.
It shows that, whilst there are admittedly some outliers that haven’t worked out, Speakman’s philosophy of bringing in young players and placing extra emphasis on their development has certainly worked on several occasions already.
Some youngsters haven’t quite worked out, but there are still plenty that should be handed the time to truly thrive in the youth set-up before judging them when they arrive on Wearside. Many were sceptical about such an approach to take in regards to transfers, but recent performances certainly show that the work behind the scenes has certainly paid dividends.