Sunderland legend Micky Gray has revealed his thoughts on the Black Cats' start to the season in an exclusive interview with Football League World Chief Editor Sam Rourke.

The former left-back has found recent performances encouraging after admitting to being slightly concerned by the slow start to the campaign but insists that their good form must continue and that promotion is a necessity.

"It was a bit worrying at the beginning when they were drawing many games," he exclusively told Football League World's Sam Rourke.

"But they seem to have turned that round a little bit which is great.

"I think everybody has said the same thing and you've just got to turn these draws into wins and if they can do that they've got every chance of being promoted this season.

"But I think it's a must to get promoted this season."

Gray spent seven years in the Black Cats first-team after graduating through the youth system at the Stadium of Light, going on to make 178 appearances, scoring five goals and assisting two more along the way before moving on to Blackburn Rovers in 2004.

With six games played, Sunderland sit in eighth place in the third-tier table, but with a game in hand on five of those sides above them following the international break.

They have won three of their last four matches in the division, seeing off the likes of Portsmouth along the way after drawing their opening two matches, although Jack Ross's side were undone by Peterborough United in a 3-0 hammering before the break.

This weekend sees them travel to struggling Accrington Stanley as they look to rediscover their form.