Quoted by the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland defender Denver Hume has said that the top two remains the aim for the Black Cats this season in Sky Bet League One.

The campaign, of course, remains on hiatus but last week the EFL reiterated its plan to conclude the season with a full fixture list including the play-offs across the three tiers.

For the Black Cats, the aim will be getting into the top six at the very least by the end of the campaign but, for Hume, the top two is very much still on.

He said:

“We’re still aiming for the top two.

“I think everyone knows that’s the aim. There are eight games left and if we win each game I think we’ll go up."

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The Verdict

The table in Sky Bet League One is so tight at the moment that there should be cause for belief from the Black Cats that they can go up automatically.

With just a handful of points separating them from second place, a good finish to the campaign, as Hume says, could seal their return to the Championship.

However, there are plenty of other sides that will be gunning to do the same and so it's very much a case of whose actions are going to speak louder than their words when things are up and running once more.