If Hull City were after a quick redemption following their 4-0 defeat to Norwich City, a visit from the league leaders Sunderland is far from an ideal scenario.
The Black Cats have impressed in the early phases of the season and now sit at the top of the tree after nine games played. Under the tutelage of new manager Régis Le Bris, the Wearside outfit have gone from outside shouts to genuine candidates in the race for promotion to the Premier League.
After a disappointing campaign last year, the incoming Frenchman has managed to brush away the cobwebs of his predecessors and transform Sunderland into one of the division's strongest teams. With an average age of just over 23, this youthful Black Cats side is full of exciting talents who will no doubt go on to become household names in the near future.
Whilst most of Sunderland's stars have excelled this season, here is a look at three players who could cause the trouble for the Tigers in Sunday's fixture.
Chris Rigg
If you didn't know the name Chris Rigg at the start of the season, there is a good chance you do by now. At just seventeen years of age the midfielder has already become a fixture with the Black Cats' and has some of Europe's top sides chasing his signature.
Rigg broke into the Sunderland eleven during the latter stages of the previous campaign, appearing in all of the Black Cats' final thirteen outings. This season has seen the teenager continue his meteoric rise and become an integral part of Le Bris' system.
The England youth international netted his first of the campaign with a cheeky back-heel against North East neighbours Middlesborough. Rigg followed this up with the opening goal in Sunderland's 2-2 draw with Leeds United just before the most recent international break.
Despite playing in the middle of the park, Rigg is a player who is eager to burst forward and get involved in the final third. A look at the 17-year-old's heatmap this season paints the picture of a midfielder who loves to get in between opposition lines.
Chris Rigg's heatmap from the 2024/25 Championship season. (Sofascore)
Whilst Rigg is a threat to almost any side in the division, there is a good chance that the teenager will have a field day against the Tigers. Tim Walter's City side have been prone to leaving large gaps between the midfield and defence, the kind of space that a player of Rigg's quality will no doubt exploit.
Oscar Zambrano has so far impressed in black and amber, however having to juggle both Rigg and Jobe Bellingham may prove too tall a task for the Ecuadorian midfielder.
Romaine Mundle
Another young star making waves at the Stadium of Light is 21-year-old winger Romaine Mundle. With three goals to his name already this season, the English talent has done an excellent job of stepping into the shoes of the departing Jack Clarke.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man even possess the same party trick as his former teammate with two of the left winger's goals coming from cutting inside and curling a shot into the bottom corner. Having conceded a similar effort to Clarke in this fixture last season, City will be eager to avoid a repeat at the hands of Mundle.
Mundle's stats for this season sees the winger top the charts for many of the Black Cats' attacking metrics, showing just how deadly he has been in the opening nine games.
With the Tigers currently allowing over 15 shots per game, there is a good chance that Mundle will see the upcoming fixture as an opportunity to add to his already impressive attacking output. Regardless of whether Walter sticks with Ivor Pandur or hands a debut to Carl Rushworth, there is no doubt that the City goalkeeper will be in for a busy afternoon.
The responsibility of marshalling Mundle will likely fall on the shoulders of Lewie Coyle. Whilst the right back has impressed so far this season, it will require an exceptional performance from the Tigers' captain to keep one of the league's most exciting talents quiet.
Patrick Roberts
A name that is probably a lot more familiar to the City faithful is that of Patrick Roberts. Entering his fourth season with the Black Cats, the 27-year-old finally looks to have found his home at the Stadium of Light.
One of just a handful of players remaining from the Black Cats' days in League One, Roberts looks to be playing his best football in years under new boss Le Bris. The former Manchester City man has started every game so far this season and has looked impressive whenever he steps out onto the pitch.
After failing to find the back of the net last season, the right winger has sprung into life during this campaign. With one goal and three assists so far this season, Roberts ranks as Sunderland's joint most productive player when it comes to goal contributions.
Patrick Roberts in action for Sunderland (Roker Report)
Roberts will be looking to notch again on Sunday afternoon and the left side of Hull's defence may prove fertile ground for him to do damage. Ryan Giles and Cody Drameh have shared left back duties so far this season and the Black Cats' winger will likely back himself to get the better of either of them.
Drameh has been given the nod most recently, but has seen mixed results playing on his weaker side. Giles is no doubt confident going forward but will likely struggle against the expected attacking barrage from the visitors.
Whilst it would be foolish to try and predict the outcome of any game in the Championship, it is clear that the Tigers will have to be at their best if they are to keep Sunderland's star players quiet and get a result on Sunday afternoon.
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