Sunderland 'gain an edge' in promotion race after Bellingham latest

Sunderland have kept solid pace with the leading pack at the top of the Championship table and have "gained an edge", according to Ian Darke.

The TV commentator, speaking exclusively to Mackem News, is adamant Regis Le Bris' side have managed to maintain an advantage to remain in among the clubs vying for the top two places.

Sunderland managed to keep all their prized assets in January, notably fending off serious interest from Brighton in prodigy winger Tommy Watson, and snatched a late win from Middlesbrough on Teesside on Monday (3 February).

Sunderland 'gain edge' by keeping Jobe Bellingham

Darke is defiant that keeping hold of Jobe Bellingham in the winter window is an almighty achievement for the Wearsiders, given his progress this season.

The 19-year-old has been the subject of widespread interest from some of the biggest entities in Europe, but he is thoroughly enjoying his football at the Stadium of Light right now.

Darke issued a dig at the points Sunderland have dropped, but overall heaped praise on the Championship's 'outsider' promotion candidates.

"So far this season, Sunderland have been hungry enough and despite rivals' parachute payments, they certainly have the ability to gain an edge to get themselves back in the Premier League," he said.

"They do occasionally slip up and throw away points, so I just wonder if they're quite at the same level as Leeds specifically, but they're still bang in the argument.

"What's also important is they haven't lost anyone like Jobe Bellingham, so they've done well to keep everything together."

Premier League light at the end of the tunnel

While signings have been hit-and-miss under the current regime, when they've done well, they have been a huge benefit to Sunderland.

There has been some savvy recruitment on Wearside in recent windows, with the self-sustainable model one adopted by an increasing number of clubs, with prized players eventually moving to pastures new for healthy profits.

Sunderland have been out of the Premier League since 2017 and spent four years since in the doldrums of League One. The place seems unrecognisable from those days now, and the Premier League is the closest it has been inside those challenging eight years by a country mile.