Sunderland are drinking from the last chance saloon with League One football staring them in the face for next season.

The men from the Stadium of Light have had an awful campaign again and it looks as though they could achieve something no side wants to do, back-to-back relegations.

Indeed, if they do end up in the third tier there's surely going to be a whole host of players leaving but that might prove to be a blessing in disguise as some new blood could finally come through.

Regardless of what happens, the Black Cats need fresh ideas on the field even if they remain in the second tier and so let's take a look at four youngsters that should be pushing for more minutes.

Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka is a very highly rated attacking force and could be given the licence to feature more next season as the Black Cats look for something else.

He's still very raw but Sunderland did actually pull off a bit of a coup in getting him in and so they might as well think about fielding him more next year.

Ethan Robson has played a fair bit this season but will surely get more minutes next season.

He's shown that he is good enough to play in the Championship and Sunderland need to show that they want to keep him by playing him more.

The midfield area needs a clear out this summer but Robson should stay put.

Josh Robson is another bright player who might get his chance in defence.

Sunderland have the likes of Lamine Kone and John O'Shea still knocking around but you can see that they could possibly move on in the summer.

Robson might get a chance, then, as the club need to embark on a new era.

Josh Maja is another player who has featured at times this year and next season it could be time for him to become a proper regular.

He's still young but he has good quality, he just needs to be that bit more nasty when he comes up against bruising centre-halves.

Sunderland need to go with the fresh-faced stars next season and get rid of the deadwood that has dragged them down.