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Trai Hume Pays Emotional Tribute To Sunderland 'Heroes' After Summer Exits
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- Trai Hume Pays Emotional Tribute To Sunderland 'Heroes' After Summer Exits
Trai Hume pays tribute to Sunderland promotion heroes after emotional exits
Sunderland defender Trai Hume has paid an emotional tribute to his former Black Cats teammates who have left the Stadium of Light this year following their promotion heroics.
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Currently, Hume and club captain Luke O'Nien remain the only two senior Sunderland players at the club who played a part in the Black Cats' remarkable rise from League One to the Championship and back to the Premier League.
The 2-1 comeback victory over Sheffield United under the Wembley arch will forever be etched into Sunderland folklore forever, and that long-lasting memory could only be potentially be eclipsed by the upcoming European nights this season.
Several of Hume's fellow promotion heroes from that momentous victory have departed the Stadium of Light this season, with former captain Dan Neil joining Rangers, Dennis Cirkin leaving as a free agent and since moving to Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and Anthony Patterson departing for Wrexham in an £8m move .
Following the trio's emotional exits, Hume has admitted that it is "sad" to see them leave Sunderland after bonding through some of the greatest moments in the club's recent history.
Trai Hume in pre-season for Sunderland (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Trai Hume Pays Emotional Tribute To Sunderland 'Heroes'
Without the contributions from the likes of Academy of Light products Neil and Patterson, and former Tottenham youth product Cirkin, Hume and his fellow Sunderland teammates would not be in the position with the Europa League coming up for the club next season.
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It is an unfortunate reality of the evolution of the Stadium of Light project that emotionally charged departures will come during the resurgence, and Hume has thanked the trio and the other Sunderland departees for their contributions.
As quoted by the Sunderland Echo , Hume said when asked about those exits: "It's probably a bit different for the likes of me and Luke (O'Nien) that have been there from the start with them.
"And for me, it's sad to see them leave. But the club's going one way, and obviously they're not getting the game time that they want, and they're going another way.
"But I wish all three of them and whoever left before all the best. And I have no doubt that they'll go on to do great things in their careers always. And I just want to thank them.
"And like I've always said, they're heroes in my eyes for what they've done for this club. And hopefully they can go on and achieve great things."
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Trai Hume in pre-season for Sunderland (Action Images via Reuters)
Trai Hume Wants More Goals Next Season For Sunderland
As well as the aforementioned trio, the tough-tackling Northern Ireland international is certainly poised to "achieve great things" in the next stage of his Sunderland career.
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Hume has been one of the standout performers under Regis Le Bris in pre-season, with the 24-year-old impressing both in his trademark full-back position, and when operating in a more advanced role.
As a result, Hume found himself on the scoresheet in the victories over Ligue 1 duo Lens and Rennes , and the Sunderland fan-favourite is hoping to continue his productive vein of form in front of goal in the upcoming campaign.
"I scored two last season, so hopefully I'll try and get more than that. I hope I haven't gone too early, to be honest. I'd rather keep it for the season.", Hume joked.
"I think ending last year, I thought I was getting better. Obviously, I was playing right wing, and it's the first time in my career I was asked to play that position.
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"I thought I was getting better and better at it the more I got used to it. Obviously, in pre-season, I played both. I'm getting comfortable playing either higher up or at full-back.
"But goals are always good to score. It doesn't matter if it's me or anyone on the team. The most important thing is winning football matches."
Sunderland travel to Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon for the 2026/27 Premier League opening weekend, and Hume will undoubtedly start the clash barring any injury issues, but it remains to be seen whether Le Bris will utilise him in a more defensive or attack-minded role.
