Sunderland midway through their first season back in the Championship, and it's time to hand out the half-term grades. Alex Neil and his successor as head coach Tony Mowbray have between them used 27 players across the 23 league games and one Carabao Cup fixture so far.
Of those, nine joined over the summer - including Jack Clarke and Leon Dajaku who made permanent moves to Wearside after spending time on loan with the Black Cats last term - with three of those arriving on loan. Overall, Sunderland will be happy with the way their season has panned out, with the club reaching the halfway mark sitting in 12th place, seven points above the relegation zone and just three points outside the top six, with Ross Stewart the club's six-goal leading scorer despite playing only a third of the games to this point due to injury.
But which players have made the greatest impact? Which players have handled the step up from League One with aplomb, and which have struggled to make the grade? Here's how our Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter has graded their contributions so far.
READ MORE: Elliot Embleton could return for Sunderland before the end of the season
Aji Alese B
The pacy and powerful defender made a big impact since his summer move from West Ham, impressing both at centre-back and at left-back. A very promising start to his Sunderland career
Amad A
The on-loan Manchester United winger has been a star in the first half of the season, with his trickery making him a fan favourite while his five goals and one assist were a major help when Sunderland were short of strikers.
Abdoullah Ba C+
Ten appearances, although just the one start, but the midfielder has shown potential since arriving in the summer
Alex Bass C
Played in the Carabao Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, but has otherwise watched from the bench with Anthony Patterson established as number one
Danny Batth B+
A constant presence in the first half of the season and has been a rock at the heart of defence. Picked up an injury at Hull which might spoil his ever-present record
Jewison Bennette C+
Yet to start a game but showed what he can do with a late equaliser at Watford. Back from World Cup duty with Costa Rica, both he and Sunderland will be hoping he plays a bigger role in the second half of the season
Dennis Cirkin B-
A solid performer at the start of the season before a hamstring injury caused him to miss games. Now finds himself competing with Alese for a place on the left side of defence
Jack Clarke B+
Back at Sunderland after spending time here on loan last term, and has been a key man in the first half of this season, contributing four goals and five assists so far
Leon Dajaku D+
Eight appearances, including two starts, but has failed to make any real impact this season
Jack Diamond C-
Only played in the Carabao Cup and for four minutes as a sub in the league before being sent out on loan to Lincoln City
Elliot Embleton B
Brought an injection of creativity in the final third and contributed two goals and two assists, but now faces a lengthy lay-off after breaking his ankle at Hull
Corry Evans A-
The experience and knowhow of Sunderland's skipper in the middle of the pitch has been crucial, and he has been a huge miss on the handful of occasions he has been absent
Lynden Gooch B
Has essentially made the right-back position his own, proving he can fill that role
Niall Huggins C
Made his long-awaited comeback after more than a year out through injury, but has only played one game so far
Trai Hume C
A frustrating first half of the season for him with five appearances but only two starts, he has been unable so far to displace Gooch at right-back
Jay Matete C-
On the fringes in the first half of the campaign, making only one league start. Most of his outings have come from the bench
Edouard Michut C-
Injuries have severely hampered him, and he has yet to make a start. Has shown promise on his handful of substitute outings, but needs to get fit and stay fit before a proper judgement can be made
Dan Neil B
A strong first half of the season in the Championship to back up his breakthrough campaign last term, he has been a fixture alongside Evans in midfield
Luke O'Nien A-
So impressive in central defence when injuries meant he was asked to drop in, he has done enough to convince Tony Mowbray that he is a defender who can play in midfield rather than a midfielder who can play in defence
Anthony Patterson B
Academy graduate Patterson finished last season as Sunderland's number one and there is no sign of him relinquishing that honour. Still learning, but can reflect on a very good first half of the season
Alex Pritchard B
Adds some skill and craft in the final third, and continues to be an important part of the team under Mowbray
Patrick Roberts B-
His quality is not in doubt but perhaps should have contributed more than two goals and three assists so far, although his opportunities have been restricted since Amad replaced him in the starting XI
Ellis Simms B
Brought in on loan from Everton as a second centre-forward and has scored five goals in 15 outings, despite missing a number of games through injury. Still room for improvement, though
Harrison Sohna C
Just one appearance, in the Carabao Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, and the young midfielder did OK
Ross Stewart A
Last season's 26-goal top scorer has had no trouble making the step up to the Championship, scoring six goals in eight games - and would have had many more had he not missed three-and-a-half months out through injury. The problem for Sunderland will be hanging on to him
Carl Winchester C-
Only one appearance, in the Carabao Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, before being farmed out to Shrewsbury Town on loan. Out of contract in the summer, and it's a sad ending to his time on Wearside after helping the club win promotion
Bailey Wright C
Struggled for gametime early in the season but forced his way into the starting XI in October and went to the World Cup with Australia. Will be hoping to play a bigger role in the second half of the campaign
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