The pre-match buzz is back and so is Premier League football at the Stadium of Light with Sunderland returning to action against Hull City on Saturday (KO 3pm).
The Black Cats produced a rousing display in their last outing at AFC Bournemouth as a Victor Anichebe masterclass downed the Cherries.
Reduced to ten men following Steven Pienaar’s dismissal, David Moyes’ side refused to be beaten and after weathering the storm talisman Jermain Defoe secured three points from the penalty spot.
Hull City also picked up three points prior to the international break overcoming Southampton thanks to goals from Robert Snodgrass and Michael Dawson.
And Snodgrass, 29, will once again be vitally important for the Tigers when they travel to Wearside, with the Scotland international the club’s top scorer in all competitions (five goals).
At the other end Victor Anichebe will be hoping to retain his place and partner Defoe, who would love to net his 150th Premier League goal at the Stadium of Light.
Watch this space.
Vito Mannone and Seb Larsson both featured for the club’s under-23 side during the international break with Jason Denayer and Adnan Januzaj also returning in recent weeks.
John O’Shea is also available after missing the trip to Bournemouth but Jan Kirchhoff won’t feature despite returning to training, with Lee Cattermole ruled out for four months following hip surgery.
Jack Rodwell and Fabio Borini will also miss the game, with Pienaar suspended.
Hull City, meanwhile, came through the international break unscathed, but the damage was already done with Will Keane and Abel Hernandez both limping out of action on the south coast.
Moses Odubajo, Andrew Robertson, Greg Luer and Alex Bruce will also miss out.
The last game between the sides came in 2015 as Jack Rodwell and future Black Cat Dame N’Doye found the net, with Sunderland’s last win over the Tigers coming in 2010 as Darren Bent scored the only goal.
This weekend’s game will celebrate a club legend as ‘Charlie Hurley Day’ takes place at the Stadium of Light, so please ensure you arrive early to honour the man himself, as well as a few other familiar faces from days gone by.
OTHER INFO
Ticket information for Saturday’s game is available by clicking here.
If you can’t make the game, then don’t fear because we have every base covered with extensive coverage on safc.com and on Twitter by following @SunderlandAFC.
Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett will also be LIVE on safc.com from 2pm.