Sunderland have enjoyed a solid return to life back in the Championship as they currently sit 11th in the table after 13 matches in the division since their promotion from League One.

The Black Cats escaped the third tier after four years by winning the play-offs under Alex Neil last season and Kristjaan Speakman worked hard over the summer to improve the team.

Jack Clarke, Aji Alese, Daniel Ballard, Edouard Michut, and Ellis Simms are just a few of the players he brought to the Stadium of Light to improve the squad.

Clarke put pen to paper on a four-year contract as he completed a permanent move to the club for an undisclosed fee after spending the second half of last season on loan from Tottenham.

The young attacker scored once and provided three assists in 20 League One appearances for the Black Cats and has taken his game to the next level since joining permanently.

He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.08 and chipped in with an outstanding four goals and four assists in 13 appearances in the Championship so far this season, showcasing his ability to be a match-winner with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

The winger, who has made 2.0 tackles and interceptions and completed 1.8 dribbles per game, joined for a deal that has been reported to potentially be worth up to £10m in the future and his performances on the pitch suggest that he is providing value for money at this moment in time.

Players who can make the difference in the final third are worth millions as they can win matches on their own and Tony Mowbray could have another Clarke at the club already in Jack Diamond.

The Sunderland academy graduate was sent out on loan to Lincoln in League One this season and the 22-year-old is enjoying a sublime campaign so far.

Diamond, who was once described as "powerful" by Lee Johnson, joined the third-tier outfit towards the end of August and has made an instant impact, scoring four goals in his first five league matches for the club.

Along with his goals, he has also created one 'big chance' for his teammates and made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst completing 2.6 dribbles per outing.

This comes after he produced 13 goals and six assists on loan at Harrogate Town in 39 League Two appearances in the 2021/22 campaign.

The Sunderland youngster has proven, like Clarke has this season, that he has the quality to be a match-winner with his goal contributions at League Two and League One level.

Mowbray could now prevent Speakman from needing to splash out millions on another winger for the first team by bringing Diamond back into the fold in 2023 and integrating him into the squad to see if he has the quality to replicate his form in the Championship.