Sunderland make their long-awaited return to the Championship next month after spending four seasons in League One. Play-off final victory last month ended the Black Cats’ promotion hoodoo and Alex Neil’s side will be looking to solidify their status in the second tier this season.
Traditionally, arch-rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland play at home on alternating weekends to avoid fan disruption - an unwritten rule that is followed despite the two clubs playing in different divisions. As the Magpies’ fixtures have already been released, their Premier League schedule can be used as a guideline for how Sunderland’s could look.
The Championship fixture list is not due until June 23, six weeks before the start of the campaign. ChronicleLive has profiled Newcastle’s run-in to analyse how it may affect Sunderland.
