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 Sunderland in January from Irish League side Linfield and made three starts as the Black Cats qualified for the League One play-offs and ultimately secured promotion at Wembley.
He joined when Lee Johnson was head coach but Johnson was sacked before Hume made his debut, and he went on to make two appearances under new boss Alex Neil. Now, after adjusting to life in England, Hume is hoping to make more of an impression next season as the Wearsiders step up to the Championship.
"Coming in at the time I did, then Lee Johnson was sacked and Alex came in, so it was a tough time for me but getting promoted was the most important thing for the club and the fans and the players," said Hume. "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."
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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 said: "Going away internationally is big for me. Going away and getting experience off the players, getting games, has been a good experience and obviously being at Sunderland has helped with that."
Hume played his first full 90 minutes of pre-season in Saturday's friendly win against Dundee United, when he headed the Black Cats in front early in the second half at Tannadice. "Dennis [Cirkin] crossed the ball, the keeper has touched it, and it has just come onto my head and I've just directed it into the net," he said.
"The keeper was a bit surprised because he thought he had dealt with it, but it's just come to me and I've put it in the net. 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 obviously 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 the game really."
Hume was part of the squad that travelled to Portugal for a week-long pre-season training camp, and he played 45 minutes against Rangers in the friendly that was abandoned at half-time due to a powercut at the stadium. He did not figure against Roma last Wednesday on the final day of the Portugal trip, but watched the game nonetheless.
He 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 that 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."
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