Sunderland are firmly on track to have a great season.

After several years of suffering the Black Cats are enjoying a great campaign in League One and are firmly in the mix to secure automatic promotion to the Championship at the third time of asking.

If they're to do so then they'll have Lee Johnson's squad of players to thank.

Sunderland currently boast a large crop of players who have mostly come from the United Kingdom, but that hasn't always been the way with the Black Cats having some great overseas stars over the years.

But who are the top players to come into the club from outside of the UK?

Here we take a look at the 10 best ever foreign Sunderland import.

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting players to play at the Stadium Of Light.

Sessegnon moved to the club in 2011 after impressing with Le Mans and Paris Saint-Germain during his time in France.

The winger spent two and a half years with the Black Cats in which time he scored 18 goals in 97 appearances for the club.

Supporters loved watching him due to his pace and trickery before he went on to join West Bromwich Albion, where he spent three years before heading back to France.

Now 36, Sessegnon is without a club since leaving his last club last year.

A player who has gone on to enjoy a wonderful career in England.

After representing Chelsea at youth level the full-back spent time out on loan with the likes of Newcastle United, Leicester City and Vitesse Arnhem in Holland.

That led Van Aanholt to join Sunderland on a permanent deal in the summer of 2014.

The left-back spent two and a half years with the Black Cats and established himself as a real fans' favourite during his 95 appearances for the club.

He then left the club in January 2017 for Crystal Palace where he is still thriving as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.

The goalkeeper has certainly enjoyed an excellent career that has seen him play at the highest level of the game.

After making his name in Belgium with Sint-Truiden, Mignolet completed a move to the Stadium Of Light back in 2010, kickstarting his career in the English game.

Mignolet spent three years with Sunderland in which he made over 100 appearances and established himself as one of the best stoppers in the Premier League.

That led to significant interest from Liverpool who completed a £9million deal to sign him in 2013.

Mignolet spent six years at Anfield before moving back to Belgium where he is currently playing for Club Brugge.

A player who is something of a cult hero at the Stadium Of Light.

The Trinidad & Tobago international started his career in England with Southampton where he enjoyed incredibly impressive loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City before making a first team breakthrough.

In 2007 he completed a move to Sunderland where he spent three years with the club and established himself as one of the club's top strikers.

Jones scored 28 goals in his three years at the club which was a decent return, but while he wasn't prolific he was still seen as a big player at the time.

Since then he played for the likes of Stoke City and Cardiff City before hanging up his boots.

While he wasn't always as appreciated as he should have been, Malbranque was a big player for Sunderland.

The winger started his English career with Fulham where he spent five years in a hugely successful spell in West London.

He then spent two years with Tottenham Hotspur before completing a move to Sunderland in 2008 at the age of 28.

While his goals and assists were limited during his time with the Black Cats there's no doubt that he was a popular figure during his time at the Stadium Of Light until he completed a move to Saint Etienne in 2011.

The Costa Rica international may not have been with the most successful player in the club's history, but you can't fault his loyalty.

Oviedo left Everton for Sunderland in January 2017 but despite establishing himself as a first team regular he was part of the side that suffered relegation from the Premier League.

While plenty of players moved on, the left-back stuck with the club during the season in the Championship and was one of the Black Cats' best performers as they suffered relegation again.

But while many expected him to move on again, Oviedo stayed for one more season to try and get Sunderland promoted again - something that they nearly did after reaching the play-off final.

Now playing in Denmark, Sunderland fans have fond memories of the 31-year-old who certainly didn't shirk the challenge of playing for the club during a torrid time.

Another player who wasn't the most talented to ever play for the club, but had a habit of popping up with big moments.

Fabio Borini spent time in his youth with Chelsea but made his real breakthrough in England during his time with Liverpool where he was a fringe player for the club's first team.

He moved on loan to Sunderland in the 2013-14 season and scored some massive goals - including winning efforts against arch rivals Newcastle United and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Borini even scored a key goal in that season's League Cup semi-final against Manchester United before scoring the opener in the final against Manchester City.

He then joined the club permanently and spent two years with the club before moving back to Italy with AC Milan.

Sunderland's longest-serving foreign player, according to Transfermarkt.

After coming through the youth ranks with Arsenal the midfielder went to Birmingham City on loan in 2006 before having his move made permanent the following year.

Larsson then spent four years with the club before moving to Sunderland in 2011.

The Sweden international, who made 127 appearances for his country, spent six years at the Stadium Of Light as he played a key role in the club's time in the Premier League.

He was then released as the club suffered relegation in 2017 after making over 200 appearances for the club and proving himself as a mainstay in the side.

The goalkeeper arguably enjoyed his most successful years with Sunderland.

After turning professional in his native Denmark, Sorensen completed a move to the Stadium Of Light in 1998 after being recommended by Peter Schmeichel.

Sorensen helped the club to promotion from the First Division and then spent four years as the club's goalkeeper during their time in the Premier League.

After five years with the club he was sold to Aston Villa in 2003 but will always be remembered as a legend for famously saving an Alan Shearer penalty in 2000 to preserve a victory over fierce rivals Newcastle United.

It's hard to find a foreign player who is more popular than Julio Arca.

The Argentine player moved to Sunderland as a complete unknown at the age of 19, but it didn't take him long to get up and running after scoring on his home debut against West Ham United.

Arca spent six years with the club and fully embraced his status as an adopted Wearsider as he made 177 appearances for the club during that time.

After the club suffered relegation in 2006 he was sold to Middlesbrough but always maintained his positive relationship with the club and its supporters.

Even after retiring Arca is still based on the North East and while he's always be from South America, many regard him as a Mackem through and through.