Exclusive: Sunderland’s Blend of Steel and Talent Can Secure Promotion, says Phil Bardsley

Former Sunderland ace Phil Bardsley believes the club have got to be “brave” and face the challenge of Premier League promotion “head-on”.

The Black Cats have dazzled this season and are sitting pretty in fourth spot in the Championship.

But the race to the top tier will not relent as the Tynesiders look to earn to get back to the big time for the first time since 2017.

The Black Cats enjoyed a decade-long run in the top-flight between 2007-2017, but have been desperately trying to get back ever since.

“It’s about putting your shoulders back and expressing yourself and taking the challenge on,” Bardsley told SportsBoom.com. 

“They’ve got a good blend in the team, a little bit of experience and a little bit of steel, which is going to be needed, because people are going to question to you if a few results go against you."

“[Jobe] Bellingham is easy on the eye, he’s a bit like Jude isn’t he, and they’ve signed Alan Browne as well. You need experience in the middle of the pitch."

“The right-back [Trai] Hume is decent, the skipper Luke O’Nien has been a good servant to the club and a steady player, and they’ve got Patrick Roberts as well, he’s got decent trickery, creates stuff and scores a few goals.

“I liked [Jack] Clarke, but I thought it was a really strange move he went to Ipswich."

“Nothing against Ipswich, but I don’t think they’ve got enough to stay in the Premier League."

“I thought it was a bit premature for him to leave. He’s obviously made a lot of noise and, when someone puts in a decent bit, well there’s not much you can do."

“But I think if he’d have had another decent season this season, then it could have taken Sunderland up."

“If he did that then his stock would have risen even higher, I think he’d have got a better move than Ipswich.”

REVELATION LE BRIS

French boss Regis Le Bris has been a revelation since taking charge of the Black Cats in June last year.

In his first proper season in charge the club have won 15 and drawn nine of his 30 games in charge, with promotion to the Premier League within touching distance so long as the club can maintain the consistent form they have shown for much of this season.

“It would be great if the club could get back to the Premier League, but it’s such a big ask,” added Bardsley, who played 200 games for Sunderland and played seven seasons in the Premier League with the club.

“After I left you could see things were not going in the right direction, you can’t start to see things unfold because there were people at the football club with zero experience."

“You could see it needed people in the right places to get the club back on track. Obviously it’s taken a period of time, but hopefully now they’ve got the right people in places and the right people on the pitch."