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Sunderland star tops Championship rivals Borja Sainz and Junior Firpo for key statistic after impressive campaign.
Sunderland confirmed their Championship play-off place last week with their 0-0 draw at Norwich, but fell to a concerning defeat 1-0 against Swansea on Saturday.
Sunderland fans bemoaned Wilson Isidor’s performance, with the 12-goal forward one of many Black Cats star who were substandard against Alan Sheehan’s side.
Regis Le Bris’ side look destined to finish in fourth after their spot in the play-offs was made certain with five games of the regular season to go.
Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg have been two of the league’s best so far this campaign. However, their fellow Black Cats star Trai Hume currently tops the Championship pile in one key metric which highlights his importance across their campaign.
Sunderland ace Trai Hume tops Championship for key statistic
Hume has been in impressive form throughout the campaign under Le Bris, starting all but one of Sunderland’s 42 league games this season so far, notching nine direct goal contributions in the process from full-back.
The 23-year-old has been pivotal in Sunderland’s promotion push with his exploits hitting a new peak across the recent run of fixtures.
Hume scored the game-winner against Millwall with an emphatic volley, then again earned victory for Sunderland with his stunning free-kick strike at West Brom.
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray told the press after the game: “You have to give some credit to their defenders. I think Luke O’Nien is an amazing defender. (Chris) Mepham did well for them today. Trai Hume’s a really top, top player.”
Hume’s consistency has seen him singled out amongst top Championship competition, including Norwich City star Borga Sainz and Leeds United full-back Junior Firpo, as the highest-rated player across the Championship season according to football statistic website WhoScored.
The Northern Ireland international has been an ever-present for Le Bris this season, with his tough-tackling trademark style crucial for the Black Cats.
Hume’s rise to become one of the Championship’s best this season is made even more remarkable given the fee Sunderland shelled out for him only three years ago.
Sunderland recruitment team’s masterstroke with Trai Hume transfer fee
Sunderland’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, sought Hume from footballing obscurity in his native Northern Ireland in the January window of 2022.
The Black Cats shelled out a paltry £200k fee for Hume from his boyhood club Linfield, and has since gone on to make 126 appearances for Sunderland.
| Key statistic | Trai Hume so far in 24/25 season |
| Games played | 41 (40 starts) |
| Goals + assists | 9 (3 goals, 6 assists) |
| Yellow cards | 11 |
| Successful passes | 1,466 |
| Duels won | 252 |
Hume is one of few Championship defenders with an eight-figure transfer fee required for their signature which makes the full-back easily Sunderland’s best value-for-money signings in club history.
Premier League Fulham have been tracking Hume, with his current Sunderland set to expire in June 2027, the Black Cats will be inundated with offers for Hume this summer following his consistently impressive performances this season.