Next up for Huggins and Sunderland, is the visit of Portsmouth to the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

The Verdict

You can't blame Huggins for being delighted with just about everything that happened on Tuesday night.

From an individual perspective, making that first league start of his career is a big step forward in his progression as a player, and he will hope there are many more to come.

The fact that it came in such an emphatic and impressive win to take Sunderland to the top of the League One table, will have only made this all the more satisfying for Huggins.

Indeed, with the potential he clearly possesses, you imagine there will be plenty more enjoyable nights like this for the young full-back as he continues to develop and improve in the game.