Jeff Stelling makes Sunderland AFC, Premier League prediction after hot start | OneFootball

The Black Cats league the lead and have a game in hand on the team that's right behind them.

Jeff Stelling has predicted that Sunderland will win promotion after their strong start to this season under their new head coach, Regis Le Bris.

A draw away at Queens Park Rangers with 10 men for over half an hour could be considered a slightly disappointing result for Sunderland, and yet this is near enough the same team that finished last season in 16th.

There were two major personnel changes at the Stadium of Light this summer. The player, in most people's minds, that was considered to be the club's best, Jack Clarke, left the northeast to try his hand in the Premier League with Ipswich Town. Despite the winger's brilliance, the other key alteration has made much more of an impact than Clarke's departure.

Le Bris has transformed a team that was absolutely on its knees and heading in the wrong direction to one that is a genuine promotion contender. We may be just over a quarter of the way into the season, but the league table doesn't lie.

With the way things are going at the Stadium of Light, it would be no surprise to see them back in the Premier League next season.

Jeff Stelling's Sunderland promotion prediction

Stelling, a north-east native, would be one of the people that would be equally un-surprised by Sunderland's ascent to the top table. The Hartlepool United fan claimed on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show, which he hosts, that it won't be long before we see the Wearsiders taking on their old foes, Newcastle United, in the league.

"There will be a Tyne-Wear derby once again," said Stelling. "Sunderland are clear at the top of the table. It may not seem a very daring prediction, but when you think of the parachute payments that some of the big boys have got there.

"You think of the strength of Leeds United, the fact that Sheffield United are coming good once again, I think would be an amazing achievement for Sunderland. Not necessarily to win the Championship, but for them to be promoted back to the Premier League and I think they will be."

Le Bris hasn't got caught up in any of the promotion talk. On multiple occasions he has batted off questions about the Black Cats' route back to the Premier League being a likely one this season.

Prior to their win over Oxford United, the head coach spoke of a need to avoid overlooking their opponents. "We spoke a lot about complacency after we won the first four games in a row," said the Frenchman, via the Sunderland Echo. "Then we lost at Plymouth and complacency was the right word."

Even after going five points clear at the top of the Championship table after a dozen games, Le Bris further reiterated the task ahead of Sunderland if they do want to win promotion. He said, as per James Copley: "We will need 90 points and 30 victories. It is a good start but nothing else."

The head coach isn't completely unaware of the opportunity that is in front of him after Sunderland's impressive first 13 games. Football Insider reported that Le Bris has made the club aware of his desire for further financial backing in the January window in order to keep improving the squad as they strive to return to the English top flight.

Why Sunderland have been so much better this season

Pinning down one specific reason for the Black Cats' improvement in this campaign, so far, compared to the previous one, isn't easy to do. Last time out, the unusual number of head coaches they had, the poor recruitment and the general vibe of the place wasn't great.

One thing was for certain then, and is for certain now: there's a lot of talent in this team. Even without Clarke and Jobe Bellingham, who was the one that was sent off against QPR for a high challenge on Zan Celar, and will thus be suspended for a few games, they still have strong options throughout the team.

Dan Ballard, Trai Hume, Dennis Cirkin, Dan Neil, Patrick Roberts, Romaine Mundle; they are all high-level Championship players, and that list doesn't include one Le Bris signing.

What he has been able to do is extract the best out of these players, which is what great coaches do.