I’ll Trai to break into starting XI and impress Neil
TRAI Hume is aiming to kick on in his first full season with Sunderland after playing a bit-part role in the Black Cats’ play-off charge last term.
Right-back Hume joined the Black Cats in January from Irish League side Linfield and made three starts as the Wearsiders qualified for the League One play-offs and ultimately secured promotion at Wembley.
Lee Johnson was head coach when Hume arrived but was sacked before the new recruit made his debut, which came under caretaker boss Mike Dodds against Cheltenham.
Hume went on to make two appearances under new boss Alex Neil.
Now, after adjusting to life in England, he hopes to make more of an impression as the Wearsiders step up to the Championship.
Hume said: “Coming in at the time I did, then Lee Johnson was sacked and Alex came in, it was a tough time for me but being promoted was the most important thing for the club and the fans and the players.
“I’m just trying to get a good pre-season now, trying to get as many games as I can, and see where it leads me this season.”
Despite his lack of first-team action at Sunderland, the 20-year-old was still called on to make his senior international debut for Northern Ireland in a Nations League game in June.
He added: “Going away internationally is big for me.
“Going away and getting experience off the players, getting games, has been a good experience and being at Sunderland has helped with that.” Hume played his first full 90 minutes of pre-season in Saturday’s friendly win at Dundee United, when he headed the Black Cats in front early in the second half at Tannadice.
He said: “Dennis Cirkin crossed the ball, the goalkeeper touched it and it came on to my head and I just directed it into the net.
“The goalkeeper was a bit surprised because he thought he had dealt with it but it just came to me and I put it in. “Most players were told they would get 90 minutes on Saturday and it was the first 90 minutes for a lot of players. “I felt we dominated the game for the first 70 minutes easily, then your legs tire and they start bringing on subs whereas we only made two changes throughout the game, so we tired a wee bit. They got a bit of possession and held us back a wee bit in the last 20 minutes but other than that I thought we dominated really.” Hume was part of the squad which travelled to Portugal for a week-long preseason training camp and he played 45 minutes against Rangers in the friendly abandoned at half-time due to a power cut. He did not play against Roma last Wednesday on the final day of the Portugal trip. Hume said: “I thought we did well when we played Rangers and Roma. “For the first 45 minutes against Rangers we were the better team and we dominated the game. In the first half against Roma I felt we were the better team as well - it was just Roma took their chances in the second half. “Getting the games over there and then now is good for me, against good opposition, going into the Championship.”
Going away and getting experience off the players, getting games, has been a good experience Trai Hume