Sunderland are gearing up for their second successive season in the Championship following a four-year stay in League One. Very few would have predicted a play-off finish in their first season back in the second tier especially given the amount of rebuilding at the Stadium of Light in the past 24 months.
The Wearsiders were one of the surprise packages last season and swaggered their way over the line and into the top-six on the final day of the season. Tony Mowbray's men may have come unstuck against a physical Luton Town, but there's been a concerted effort this summer into addressing that area of weakness.
The Hatters would win promotion to the Premier League to round off a remarkable decade for themselves, going from non-league to the top flight. Although the two clubs are of vastly different stature behind the scenes, Sunderland could learn from a thing or two from Rob Edwards' side.
Luton were beaten play-off semi-finalists under previous boss Nathan Jones, with Huddersfield winning the two-legged shootout to reach Wembley, only to be beaten by Nottingham Forest. Very few predicted the Hatters to repeat that feat in the season just gone, while the Terriers were dark horses for promotion.
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A disastrous few weeks heading into the season, saw Huddersfield lose head coach Carlos Corberan and a number of key players moved on - Harry Toffolo and Lewis O'Brien to name but a few. Luton on the other hand, were consistent with their approach and able to keep key players at the club.
That's not to say the Hatters weren't dealt a curveball of their own when Jones opted to leave the club for a second time, joining struggling Southampton in the Premier League - another poor choice from the Welshman. Edwards steadied the boat and reaffirmed his credentials, after his stock took a hit following an early sacking from Watford.
Huddersfield would struggle under Danny Schofield and then Mark Fotheringham, with Neil Warnock called out of retirement to help steer them to safety in the end of season run in. A close call.
2020-21 play-off semi-finalists Barnsley defied the odds to finish in the top-six, but weren't as lucky as their Yorkshire rivals and were relegated the following year. A warning for the Black Cats.
Sunderland are yet to lose any key players heading into the next campaign, a real bonus given interest in their young stars. If the Wearsiders can keep together their core and add quality to it, there's no reason they can't upset the odds again next season and prove their play-off finish was no fluke.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has avoided any rash decisions and kept Mowbray at the club - despite bizarre rumours claiming the Sunderland owner was looking to replace the head coach after last season's success. Instead, the owner has backed his new manager so far this summer and there's plenty of cautious optimism.
The strength of the relegated Premier League sides will poses Sunderland a new problem next season, but this young side has performed best when up against the odds.
