At the start of the season, Sunderland supporters would have predicted an immediate return to the Championship - and they are showing positive signs of doing just that.

Sunderland are currently third in the League 1 table, with the side just four points adrift of Portsmouth who currently occupy top spot.

Josh Maja has been the stand-out player for manager Jack Ross this season with nine goals to his name already this season in a hugely impressive start for the 19-year-old.

Ross' side face a couple of tricky away fixtures after the international break, as they travel to Shrewsbury Town and Doncaster Rovers and will hope to maintain their four-match unbeaten run.

The Sunderland boss will certainly be pleased with his start to his first managerial role in England after previously managing Scottish side St Mirren.

But what will Ross have learnt about his Sunderland side with over a quarter of the season already played?

Find out here....

The league's top goalscorer has been in remarkable form this season, scoring nine goals in 12 league appearances but Ross has a fight on his hands to keep Maja at the club.

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, there have already been clubs registering their interest in the striker with The Mirror reporting that Southampton, Tottenham and Manchester City are all vying for his signature.

If Maja is to keep up this run of form, then he makes it difficult for the club to keep hold of him after this season.

Sunderland are yet to face defeat at the Stadium of Light and the longer their unbeaten run goes on at home, the more confident the players will get as the season goes on.

In front of an expectant crowd, the atmosphere is always electric in Wearside with the home fans making it difficult for opposition teams to play there.

As the season progresses, manager Jack Ross will have to deal with the huge weight of expectation that he is faced with from both the club and the club's supporters who will be expectant of their side getting promoted back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

He is doing an excellent job so far and will hope to continue doing so for the rest of the season and guide his side to promotion.