Sunderland will be hoping that they can start another cup run with success in the EFL Trophy.

Last season saw the Black Cats go all of the to the final only to be beaten by Portsmouth at Wembley in a penalty shootout.

According to the Sunderland Echo, that cup run saw Sunderland pocket in the region of £1million, something which they'll be keen to do again as they look to rebuild their squad in the January transfer window and next summer.

Of course the hunt for promotion from League One has to be the main priority for Phil Parkinson's side, but the Sunderland boss insisted that it's crucial that his players don't take the game lightly.

Speaking to the press, as quoted by the Chronicle, he said: "We're taking tomorrow night's game seriously - it's an opportunity to look at players - but every time any player pulls on a Sunderland shirt it's a serious game. We've also got to honest and say in the priority list it's not the top, but we go into every game wanting to win and we'll see where it takes us.

"I think it's a good idea to bring Premier League teams' under-21s into the tournament because it's good for the development of those players and, as we all know, under-21 football can sometimes not be a true reflection of what you're going to meet in league football. So it's good for those clubs to be tested against stronger first-team players.

"In terms of the competition, obviously it's down in terms of our priority list.

"At this stage in can be a low-key tournament, but as it proved for Sunderland last year it can become a very exciting competition once you progress to the latter stages."

The verdict

While a run to the EFL Trophy would certainly be exciting, there's no doubt about what supporters really want to see this season.

The campaign will not be seen as a success if the Black Cats fail to secure promotion back to the Championship. even if they do have silverware after a successful cup run.

Of course the potential to reach close to £1million in prize money is hugely appealing for the club, but as Parkinson said, it is not a top priority.