Sunderland travel to Luton Town for the first league game between the two sides in a decade, brought back together by contrasting fortunes after being separated by the same on the final day of 2007.

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The last time the two teams met in the league was May 6th 2007, when Kenilworth Road played host to the Champions. The Black Cats ran riot, winning 5-0 to secure their place in the top flight. Current Forest striker Daryll Murphy scored twice as Luton were relegated.

Since then the two sides have taken very different trajectories, but they arrive together in League One both hoping to make a move up the table. Luton are the pretenders, the League Two runners up, hoping that momentum can carry them forward.

Sunderland are the rich fallen on hard times, a team who just fifteen months ago were visiting Stamford Bridge on the closing day of the 2016/17 season. How times change.

However, the Black Cats have plenty to be thankful for after a summer of change. Jack Ross, a no-nonsense Scot and exciting young manager, has had to rebuild almost from scratch. None of the team that started the final day win against Wolves last season began this one against Charlton Athletic, although one or two players remain.

It's been a mass clear out, not panic but a measured and essential culling of high earners, replaced by hungry players from in and around League One. Charlie Wyke should provide goals, Chris Maguire may do the same. Academy graduates such as Lynden Gooch and George Honeyman will also be given the chance to shine, but it is the two players pulling this side together with experience that will perhaps be most vital this campaign.

Glenn Loovens is a veteran, to label him as anything else would be doing his vast experience a disservice, but his Championship stint will be crucial in guiding the Black Cats out of League One. yesterday, they added another exciting player in Max Power, exotically named perhaps but not to be dismissed as an influential force.

25-year old Power has four full seasons of League One football behind him, including a key role in Wigan's march to the title last season. He's played in the second tier too, with Wigan in 2016/17 where he made 42 appearances. He's young, ambitious and just the sort of player Sunderland need to push on that little bit more.

They've now got youngsters, seasoned professionals and a previous League One winner amongst their ranks. There will be some settling in, some adjusting to the new-look side and to Ross' tactics, but surely with power on board, they are only heading one way.

History saw the last meeting between Luton and Sunderland send the clubs in different directions and, unless the Hatters finish in the top six this season, tomorrow's game could be the continuation of a renaissance for the Black Cats.