Sunderland have had a pretty positive start to life in League One so far this season.

Jack Ross’ men remain unbeaten and sit fourth in the division, two points off top spot having won four of their first six games.

The Black Cats will be looking to extend that run this weekend when they host Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town at the Stadium of Light.

Without the luxury of the international break in the third-tier, Ross and his men will continue to keep up their impressive early season form.

Sunderland have the third best goals record and third best defensive record in the division so far and have a team playing with confidence and commitment.

Traits Black Cats’ fans will be impressed with after the nightmare of the last two campaigns that have both resulted in relegation.

And with any team, there will be key performers and players who have had less of an impact after the first month of the season. 

With that said, here is one winner and one loser from Sunderland’s season so far.

It has been a red-hot start to life in League One for striker Josh Maja.

Having narrowly missed out on the division’s Player of the Month award for August, he has scored four goals in six third-tier matches.

The 19-year-old has been impressive and has been a shining light for the club, and finally gets a chance week-in, week-out thanks to the unfortunate circumstance of relegation.

A fantastic start that makes him the unanimous winner of Sunderland's season so far.

A loser in every sense of the word. 

The defender finally arrived back the Academy of Light training ground after opting to take a 72-day exile from the club after a loan spell away while the club were being relegated for a second successive time.

One of the rotten eggs left over from a nightmare couple of seasons, he will play no part in Sunderland's attempted ascent to the top of the division and promotion back to the Championship.

His petulant and unprofessional behaviour might a detrimental effect on his career after he eventually leaves the Stadium of Light.