'It's about time!' - Trai Hume reflects on first Sunderland goal and path to first team

Trai Hume was happy to get his first Sunderland goal, but also felt he should have opened his account earlier.

Trai Hume thought his first Sunderland goal was overdue, but he was very relieved to get it.

The Northern Irishman headed Sunderland level on the stroke of half-time on Saturday before helping his side complete the turnaround in the second half.

A brilliant Amad Diallo goal secured a 2-1 win for the Black Cats which moved them to within two points of the play-offs positions to set up what could be a very exciting conclusion to the season.

Although overshadowed by Amad’s winner, it was a significant moment for Hume, although one he felt he should have produced sooner.

Reflecting on his first goal for Sunderland, Hume said: "It's about time!

“I've had chances over the weeks, I had a good one against Hull which was a good save to be fair. Luckily I've just found myself in the box and it's just fell to me and I'm delighted to get my first goal."

However the season ends for Sunderland, it has been an objectively excellent one for Hume. He has firmly established himself in the Blacks Cats side and has been described as ‘a revelation’ by his manager.

That breakthrough was hard-earned, though, and it wasn’t really until the end of December when an injury crisis – one of many Sunderland have weathered this season – when Hume got his opportunity.

At that time, there were rumblings that he would seek a loan move away in January to seek an opportunity to play more games. It was never needed.

"Whenever I wasn’t playing I'm not going to be happy, I want to play, every player wants to play,” he said.

“Whenever he (Mowbray) says his door is open, I'm more than happy to go and speak to him and see what I have to do to play.

"Obviously I've got my chance and hopefully I can just keep playing, play games and enjoy it. Getting a run of games, I kind of felt like I was getting my position down and was getting used to the tempo and the games.

"Obviously I've just kicked from there."

---

Read more Sunderland news

• Ten players you probably forgot played for Sunderland in League One
• Former Sunderland defender earns fresh start at Wycombe Wanderers
• Charlie Methven Charlton takeover off with former Sunderland owner blasted over his conduct
• Tony Mowbray: 'I don’t want to keep repeating this but the Sunderland fans are amazing'
• FEATURE: 15 random former Sunderland players you probably didn't know still work in football
• Former fan favourite back at Sunderland to help develop new hero
• Best Sunderland defensive partnerships: How do Dan Ballard and Danny Batth compare?