---
title: "Sunderland: Journalist urges Alex Neil to start Trai Hume against Coventry"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-trai-hume-championship-coventry-news-latest-black-cats/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Championship News"
published: "2022-07-27T06:37:16Z"
modified: "2022-07-27T06:37:16Z"
---

# Sunderland: Journalist urges Alex Neil to start Trai Hume against Coventry

**Journalist Josh Bunting has urged [Sunderland](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/) manager Alex Neil to start young right-back Trai Hume against Coventry on Sunday.**

### **The Lowdown: Sunderland’s opener**

The Black Cats start their [Championship](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/championship-news/) campaign this weekend as they are set to face Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.

Neil is hoping the Wearside club will have made [one or two](https://twitter.com/JHunterChron/status/1551794442213933058) additional signings by then, with his squad worryingly thin as they head into the first match of the new season.

As a result, a number of youngsters could receive extended minutes for the first few games, whilst the board sort out any potential incomings.

### **The Latest: Bunting’s claim**

After watching the [Black Cats face off against Hartlepool United](https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-hartlepool-united/Qsbc) in the recent 1-1 friendly, Bunting is buzzing with one of Sunderland’s most talented youngsters.

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1551684769229979655), the journalist claimed:

“He has to start on Sunday for me, I trust Alex Neil immensely but in my opinion, Trai Hume has been the standout over pre-season. Fantastic tonight.”

### **The Verdict: Great potential**

Having arrived in the North-East in January after joining from Northern Irish outfit Linfield for a mere [£216,000 fee](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/profil/spieler/515544), Hume has stirred up a lot of excitement at the Stadium of Light.

At just 20-years-old, the full-back made over [50 senior appearances](https://safc.com/news/team-news/2022/january/trai-hume-signs-for-sunderland) in his home country, and also amassed [five caps for the U21 national team.](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/leistungsdaten/spieler/515544/plus/0?saison=ges)

\[freshpress-poll id=”398192″\]

Having player under major pressure in the [qualifying stages of the Champions League](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/leistungsdaten/spieler/515544/plus/0?saison=ges), Hume has since been handed [three appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/leistungsdaten/spieler/515544/plus/0?saison=ges) for the Black Cats first-team, and with a full pre-season under his belt, this figure could increase significantly this season.