Sunderland favourite set for Stadium of Light return after shock development

Sunderland supporters will be welcoming a familiar face back to Wearside in August.

In just over 48 hours, Sunderland will take to the pitch on Wearside to face West Ham in their first Premier League encounter since 2017.

Plenty of planning and preparation has gone into this summer, and the clash with the Irons will be the first real test as to how well that has been done.

The Black Cats will follow this weekend’s game with an away trip to Burnley, before turning their attentions to the Carabao Cup, and after developments on Wednesday night, a familiar face will be involved.

Sunderland badge at the Stadium of Light
Credit: Imago

Lynden Gooch set to return to face Sunderland with Huddersfield

Sunderland‘s record in the Carabao Cup leaves a lot to be desired, but they will face Huddersfield at the Stadium of Light within the next two weeks.

The Terriers recorded a shock result when they defeated Leicester City on Wednesday, and the result means that Lynden Gooch will be returning home, albeit for 90 minutes.

Gooch spent 11 years with Sunderland before moving on to join Alex Neil at Stoke and then completing a move to Huddersfield this summer.

His reputation on Wearside was phenomenal, and should he be named in the squad for the clash, he will undoubtedly get an excellent reception from the home support.

The game will be played on the week commencing 25 August, with ticketing and streaming details due in the coming days.

Sunderland have a chance at a cup run

Typically, the Black Cats have put out a second-string side to compete in the Carabao Cup, and it is unlikely to be any different this season.

With Sunderland focused on avoiding relegation from the Premier League, Regis Le Bris will rotate, but this time, they will have the depth.

Priorities will stay the same, but a cup run would do wonders for their ability to build momentum, and a clash against League One Huddersfield presents them with a chance to do just that.

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