Tony Mowbray pays tribute to 'great lad' who took his Sunderland chance

Tony Mowbray says play-offs first-leg matchwinner Trai Hume is a credit to the club with his character after the Northern Irishman firmly grasped his chance at Sunderland.

Hume had to be patient following his move from Linfield in January 2022, with him having to wait a year before getting an opportunity to get a sustained run in the Sunderland team.

Mowbray knew nothing about Hume when he himself first arrived on Wearside, but he couldn’t be happier with his contribution – not least the winner in Sunderland’s 2-1 play-offs first-leg win over Luton.

“I remember Trai coming to see me the first month or so I was here and asking if he’d get a chance.

“The team were functioning alright and I said he had to be patient and wait for his opportunity. I could see he was a good player in training, he has lots of good attributes.

“Once he got his opportunity he’s never looked back. He’s been an ever-present in the team

“Another great lad really. There are lots of these characters you can depend on. Whatever you ask of them they embrace it and give it their very best.”

While Hume started the season as a bit-part player, he is finishing it as an absolutely crucial one. In fact, other than Joe Anderson who is not deemed to be ready yet, he is the only fit natural defender in the whole Sunderland squad.

He was joined in defence by Luke O’Nien and Lynden Gooch in the first leg, and Mowbray has suggested he will have to make do with that again at Kenilworth Road.

However, he says his confidence in those players is absolute.

“I think adversity is a strong bonder of players,” he said. “A lot of these players have got strong mindsets, want to improve, want to get better.

“There is always a positive to come out of a negative. Lynden Gooch played on the left as a back three, it’s a big call, but the lad, a bit like Luke O’Nien, is desperate to play.

“It’s the same with Goochy, he’ll play anywhere. He’s driven, he’s motived, he’s committed. He did very well the other day.”

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