Sunderland players will return from the international break ready to 'compete' for the chance of a Championship play-off place. The Black Cats are currently seven points behind sixth-placed Millwall with eight games to play.
A push to climb back up the table is certainly not out of the question, although there are a raft of teams all competing to be in the end-of-season shake-up. And the Wearsiders know they must reverse a run of form which has seen them pick up just one win in their last seven Championship fixtures.
They return to action with a Friday night trip to runaway league leaders Burnley on March 31, but Sunderland defender Luke O'Nien insists there is no reason why Tony Mowbray's side can't mix it with the league's elite. And a return to form could see them mount a late charge for the play-offs.
