Darren Bent namechecks Sunderland in 'Huge' Championship promotion admission

Ex-Sunderland striker Darren Bent has claimed a "huge club" will miss out on promotion this season with his former side sitting top of the Championship.

The division has been accused of lacking quality so far but what isn't in doubt is the competitiveness. Sheffield United, Leeds and Sunderland are just three of the sides fighting it out for a place in the Premier League next season.

Although, Bent has made his prediction, talking on talkSPORT (11 November, 4:57 pm).

He said: "There is a huge club which isn’t going up. You’ve got Sunderland, Sheffield United, Leeds, Burnley, West Brom, Watford are playing really well, and Middlesbrough up there…

“Norwich are fourteenth! Someone huge is not making it.”

Sunderland need to get back to winning ways

While some will look at the last three games as three points gained, many others will look at it as six dropped. Especially after letting a 2-0 lead slip at home to Coventry on Saturday, 10 November.

Hindsight will prove to be a valuable thing, but Sunderland may end up looking back at this run of fixtures as a missed opportunity depending on what happens come to the end of the campaign.

The Black Cats remain top of the Championship, albeit only on goal difference with Sheffield United right behind them and Leeds United just two points off them.

Arguably, top six was the aim this season for the Black Cats but an exceptional start has altered those expectations and automatic promotion has emerged as the potential target.

If Sunderland are to achieve that, they need to get back to winning games although with Millwall up next, with several players missing, a point may be deemed as a good result.

In other Sunderland news, Dan Ballard has an opportunity to impress Regis Le Bris on international duty.

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