SUNDERLAND welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Stadium of Light this afternoon buoyed by fresh hope but nagged by familiar problems.
A 2-0 victory at Cardiff on the opening weekend, the first game under new manager Regis Le Bris, provided plenty of reasons for optimism.
Primarily, it marked a departure from the wretched form and insipid performances that saw Sunderland tumble to 16th place and spend 2024 as the second-worst team in the Championship amid a calamitous sequence of managerial appointments.
Summer signing Alan Browne was typically industrious on his debut and there was even a goal from Jack Clarke, a player few Sunderland fans dreamed would still be at the Stadium of Light after last season’s 15-goal haul.
That Clarke has not yet joined Southampton or Ipswich, the two sides credited with a concrete interest, is due to Sunderland’s insistence on a £25m fee – something neither of the Premier League newcomers are prepared to pay.
This story is from the August 18, 2024 edition of The Football League Paper.
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This story is from the August 18, 2024 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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