It seems to be groundhog day, every season for our Sunderland fans in the Transfer Tavern.

The Black Cats currently sit rooted to the bottom of the table, seven points adrift from safety and their fate looks set to be in the Championship for the 2017/18 season.

Though the Sunderland punters in the Tavern are optimistic an escape can be manufactured, our landlord feels that David Moyes’ men are consigned to relegation.

As our landlord quips, how can they survive with only Jermain Defoe providing the only threat, in a squad that simply does not seem good enough for the Premier League.

Should Defoe leave, it would lead to heartbreak for Mackem fans who have simply fallen in love with their top goalscorer.

This has led to our landlord digging through the archives and looking at footage of other players that have previously worn the Sunderland shirt.

It would be an understatement to say our landlord was shocked to see some of the players the Black Cats have had on their books, and he has no doubt that had they managed to keep them – they would not be in the mess they are currently in.

With that said, here are the TWO players you’ve probably forgot ever played for Sunderland..

Marcos Alonso

Whilst Alonso looks set to become a Premier League winner with a Chelsea side he has massively contributed too this season, it was not too long ago when the Spanish wing back was on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Alonso made 20 appearances in his half a season stint with the Black Cats in 2014 and most notably won man of the match in his side’s 2-1 over Manchester United in the first leg of the League Cup semi final, as Sunderland went on to lose the final to United’s rivals, Manchester City by a score of 3-1.

Danny Welbeck

Sir Alex Ferguson sent a young Danny Welbeck on loan to Sunderland for the 2010/11 season and our resident Mackem fans have fond memories of the now Arsenal striker from his time at the Stadium of Light.

Welbeck contributed six goals in 26 league appearances whilst with the Black Cats, but what the fans most remember was his first goal for the club, in a sensational 3-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.