Sunderland remain in touch with the promotion-chasing pack in the Championship, as they target a long-awaited return to the Premier League this season.
The Black Cats are currently fourth in the second-tier standings heading into the final few months of the 2024/25 season, and their supporters will be hoping that they can hold their nerve in the race for promotion.
The likes of Jobe Bellingham, Luke O’Nien, and Romaine Mundle will be looking to put themselves amongst some players that are held in high regard at the Stadium of Light.
One player that certainly fits that description is former Sunderland forward, Jermain Defoe. He spent two years with Sunderland from 2015-2017, before returning to the club in 2022, which proved to be his final spell as a player.
Speaking to MyBettingSites’ Jacob Potter courtesy of bet365’s new Sub On Play On product, Defoe revealed that it was ‘difficult’ to predict which teams would win promotion this season, but had high hopes for his former club, Sunderland.
“It’s always difficult isn’t it! Leeds, Scott Parker’s Burnley and that. I’d love to see it (get promotion), but there’s some big clubs down there. There’s Premier League clubs in the Championship. We’re talking about Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, they’re Premier League football clubs.“
Defoe went on to reminisce on his time with Sunderland, before labelling his former side as a ‘sleeping giant’, which is something that plenty of the club’s supporters will agree with.
“Of course I would love to see Sunderland back in the Premier League because it’s a sleeping giant. The fanbase, and the time there I loved it. They’ve got a young team and a young squad with a lot of energy, good coach, and I think if it happens, then the fans and the whole city, it would be amazing. It’s crazy. I loved it up there.”
Sunderland are set to return to action on Saturday afternoon, as they take on play-off chasing Coventry City, in what should be an entertaining and closely-fought battle between two teams that will be desperate to secure three points.
Régis Le Bris’ side are priced at 17/10 on bet365 to win against the Sky Blues, which could be a tempting bet for some punters this weekend.
