---
title: "Sunderland: Journalist tips Trai Hume to start this weekend"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-vs-middlesbrough-team-news-safc-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Aaron Hindhaugh"
section: "Championship News"
published: "2023-01-20T13:15:39Z"
modified: "2023-01-20T13:46:58Z"
---

# Sunderland: Journalist tips Trai Hume to start this weekend

**Joe Nicholson believes Trai Hume could be in line to start again for [Sunderland](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/) this Sunday.**

### The Lowdown: Fiesty encounter expected

Sunderland are set to welcome their local rivals [Middlesbrough](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/middlesbrough-news/) to the Stadium of Light this week with not only bragging rights up for grabs this weekend but also a huge three points that could catapult one of them right into play-off contention.

The Black Cats are coming into this game [off the back of a home defeat](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/afc-sunderland/spielplandatum/verein/289) at the hands of Swansea City, although they did play the majority of the game with just 10 men due to Luke O’Nien’s reckless tackle.

Despite [having to bide his time](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/515544) since joining Sunderland last January, Hume now appears to be very comfortable at the Stadium of Light having been labelled ‘[so composed](https://twitter.com/JamesCopley_/status/1614279038213693446?s=20&t=HotppX95zv-xa_5vsCWRCA)‘ and ‘[athletic](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1609587995954515968?s=20&t=HotppX95zv-xa_5vsCWRCA)‘ in recent times since [he started to get a consistent run of starts](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/leistungsdaten/spieler/515544) under Tony Mowbray, so he should have a great chance of starting his first Tees-Wear derby.

### The Latest: Hume to continue his run of starts

Hume has certainly had to wait patiently but [he’s started the last three games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trai-hume/leistungsdaten/spieler/515544) now and Nicholson has claimed on [The Roar podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXVXIwdXU5U) the youngster could be handed a vote of confidence by Mowbray and start once more in a high-pressure side.

He said: (16:50) “There’s quite a few interesting matchups that are going to be on the pitch on Sunday. You mentioned there, \[Ryan\] Giles on the left and he’ll probably come up against probably Patrick Roberts and then Trai Hume might start at right back for Sunderland.”

### The Verdict: Must-win game for Sunderland

Boro are certainly going into the game as favourites given they sit fourth in the table and have [lost once in their last 10 league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-middlesbrough/spielplandatum/verein/641), however, with a likely sold-out Stadium of Light rocking and [one of the league’s top strikers](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/top-scorers) in Stewart within their ranks, Sunderland will fancy their chances.

The Black Cats know that a win would put them firmly in the hunt for a play-off berth, however defeat and it could show why they aren’t quite ready for those sorts of heights and targets.

Mowbray knows a win will be a huge statement of intent against a local rival and a team that’s been a mainstay in this division for a number of years, but with such a young squad consisting of players such as Hume, Roberts, Amad Diallo and Jack Clarke, it will be a test of not only their ability but also their character.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410591″\]