"The only way" - Sky Sports pundit drops Sunderland AFC, Enzo Le Fee transfer claim | OneFootball

Don Goodman has shared his thoughts on the Black Cats' chances of keeping up their challenge on the top two

Sunderland have been the surprise package of the Championship season so far, and look set to go all the way in the race for the automatic promotion places in the midst of some great recent form under Regis Le Bris.

The Black Cats were expected to continue their transitional period with Le Bris at the helm this term, after he was appointed as head-coach in June, but they have instead exceeded all expectations up to now.

Le Bris' side currently sit fourth in the Championship, with 59 points, and are just five points off second-placed Sheffield United with 15 games to go this season. They will feel like their top six place is now all-but-secured, as long as they don't fall off dramatically, so they effectively have a free hit to stake a claim for the top two, with little pressure if they do have to settle for the play-offs.

Don Goodman makes Ipswich Town comparison as Sunderland backed to go all the way in the promotion race

Sunderland have lost just one of their last 13 Championship outings, while they boast the third-most goals scored and fifth-best defensive record of all the teams in the league this season, so they clearly are deserving of their current position in the table.

There have been consistently standout players across the park at the Stadium of Light this season, with particular praise heaped on the likes of Wilson Isidor, Jobe Bellingham and Dennis Cirkin, while the Black Cats were able to bolster their ranks last month as Enzo Le Fee and Jayden Danns each joined on loan from Roma and Liverpool respectively.

Speaking via OLBG, Sky Sports' EFL pundit Don Goodman has shared his thoughts on where he thinks Sunderland can find the edge over others in the Championship promotion hunt over the next few months.

"Sunderland are strong all over the pitch and will be an even bigger threat when the injuries dry up. Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson are still to come back and they've just signed Jayden Danns, too," said Goodman.

"Chris Mepham is having the season of his life, they've got a fantastic goalkeeper, the two full-backs are attack-minded, and their midfield duo of Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil will be sought after by Premier League clubs.

"They have an abundance of explosive, dynamic and ball-carrying talent. We saw against Middlesbrough how they can hurt opponents, against a team that hadn't lost in six games. It was an excellent win.

"Anybody who saw that game and the performance of Enzo Le Fee will know he's a sensational player and he's only playing at 70% according to Regis Le Bris! You can see his class and that he does not belong in the Championship.

"The only way Sunderland will be able to keep Le Fee is if they win promotion. If not, he'll still be a Premier League player but for somebody else.

"I'm delighted to see them doing so well. Sunderland are the outlier, they are this year's Ipswich Town. We all waited for Ipswich to fall away last year and it didn't happen.

"Sunderland have got the tools to challenge Sheffield United and Burnley, as I'd suggest Leeds United will win the title."

Sunderland have the capabilities to challenge at the top until late in the season

While it may still be a surprise to see the Black Cats challenging at the top of the Championship at this point in a campaign after so many years either in League One or just in the play-off race, it is very clear that they do not plan on dropping away anytime soon.

Their January business was a real statement of intent, as despite missing out on Tom Cannon who joined promotion rivals Sheffield United, they were able to bring in both Le Fee and Danns, who would arguably play a huge part in any other second-tier side if they were to play for them, even the likes of the Blades and Leeds United.

French midfielder Le Fee moved to Roma from Rennes last summer for a reported figure of around €23m, yet just six months later he finds himself playing Championship football in the north-east of England. His first few performances for Sunderland have already highlighted just how impactful he can be, yet it looks as if he could improve even further, which may well see him effectively able to win games by himself in the season's run-in.

What will be key for boss Le Bris is keeping his key men fit for the next few months, as he already has Liverpool loanee Danns unavailable following his arrival with a back injury, while Jobe Bellingham picked up a short-term ankle injury that ruled him out of the last outing against Watford, which is a worrying sign if he suffers more small niggles.

Alan Browne, Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson all remain sidelined as it stands, but should be back within the next month, which would provide a huge boost to Le Bris' depth and the club's promotion chances.

Sunderland certainly have a chance of finishing in the top two this season, but given how they already find themselves slightly behind Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley, their destiny is not in their own hands and they may have to settle for a play-off spot come May.