Alex Neil walking out before the end of August. Ross Stewart sidelined for at least six weeks. Ellis Simms injured, leaving the club with no fit strikers. It sounds like a Sunderland fan's worst pre-season nightmare, rather than the present-day reality on Wearside.
And yet despite all that here the Black Cats are, fifth in the table going into October, 15 points already on the board, and producing performances under new boss Tony Mowbray that have made their supporters proud. Ten games into the season, and as the Championship pauses for the international break, it is time to take stock of what has been a remarkable start to life back in the second tier.
After all, it is only four months ago that Sunderland won promotion via the play-offs amidst joyous scenes at Wembley, having finished fifth in League One. The step up to the Championship was viewed with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, a sense of possibility but also of danger.
