#sunderland

#sunderland

"I said after the [Ajax] game it was a special night, special for the club and the fans with so many young players. We are full of good, young, talented players and the main thing for me is just to try to help them day by day get better and better. It's the only way to improve the team if you can help the players."

We checked Noah yesterday and he seems okay. We will see after the training sessions, today and tomorrow, if he will be available for this weekend - but we are positive. It's still possible that his injury is worse than we think but, at the minute, he is okay. He has had this injury before so he knows how it evolves and how serious it is. It's positive at the minute, but we will see.

Sunderland have made an impressive start to their Premier League campaign, but they face crucial decisions regarding the futures of several first-team players. They were quite impressive in the Championship last season, and they have carried that form into the top flight, with just two defeats from their opening seven matches. They have managed to bring in talented players during the summer transfer window as well.

Signed for just 12m in the summer, the former RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen defender was given his chance when Dan Ballard picked up an injury in the second game of the season. The 27-year-old has embraced the challenge, producing a series of standout displays. In his four games, Sunderland have picked up eight points and conceded just two goals. His physicality and athleticism have been central to the team's fast start.

Sunderland's summer transfer activity was the talk of the town during the recent window - and for good reason. The Black Cats added an entirely new starting XI to the squad which secured a return to the top flight via the Championship play-offs last season and have hit the ground running after their nine-year Premier League hiatus. Sunderland beat rivals to a number of signings, including the 30 million capture of Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, who was high on Leeds United's list of midfield targets.

Six games into the season and Sunderland are flying high in the Premier League. After eight years away, the Black Cats are enjoying being back in the big time, with victory at Nottingham Forest lifting them into the Champions League places. Few would expect them still to be there come May, but with three wins under their belt already, Regis le Bris' side have every reason to be optimistic.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Dennis Cirkin from Sunderland in the Janaury transfer window, accoridng to TBR.

After receiving their finishers' merchandise, runners noticed that the river on their T-shirts and medals matched the shape of the north-east's other famous river and not Newcastle's Tyne. While the map on the medal has been printed with the words Newcastle, Gateshead, and South Shields, they appear to have been overlaid on to a map of Sunderland's streets, shown either side of the River Wear.

Sunderland feel that the 21-year-old Nigerian striker is unlikely to receive regular Premier League minutes this season. His talent was evident during pre-season, and Sunderland are keen for him to gain valuable playing time elsewhere. Ahmed Abdullahi needs to leave Sitting on the bench at the Premier League club will not benefit him. Going out on loan could be ideal for the young attacker.

Sunderland are in talks to sign Ajax striker Brian Brobbey and have agreed an initial loan deal for RB Leipzig defender Lutsharel Geertruida. The newly promoted Premier League side want to sign a forward after Chelsea opted to recall loanee Marc Guiu as cover for Liam Delap, who has sustained a hamstring injury. Brobbey, 23, could move to the Stadium of Light for a reported 21.6m.

Sunderland has signed former West Ham left-back Arthur Masuaku on a two-year contract, marking their 10th signing this summer as they return to the Premier League.