On Saturday, the performance of one Northern Ireland international deservedly earned the headlines and plaudits, as Dan Ballard scored our opener, provided an assist for the equaliser, blocked a likely
winner for the opposition, and delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance. What may have gone under the radar was the part his international compatriot played in nullifying the undoubted threat that Arsenal posed.
As Sunderland’s Premier League campaign got underway, and a flurry of new signings arrived, there were some murmurings in parts of the fanbase that Trai Hume wasn’t good enough for the top level. They weren’t as loud or as ridiculous as the comparison between Brian Brobbey, who had barely kicked a ball in anger for the club at that point, and Jozy Altidore – but they were there.
With the arrival of such talented and experienced defenders such as Nordi Mukiele and Lutsharel Geertruida, there was always going to be increased competition for places, and questions over who would make the starting XI. And, as Hume adjusted to competing against Premier League opposition, it was he who came under scrutiny.
The young Irishman is still only 23 and has become a key figure in Sunderland’s resurgence, through the Championship and into the Premier League. With over 130 appearances for the club under his belt, he has proved to be both reliable and resilient, rarely absent through injury. He has not only received international recognition by Northern Ireland; his maturity has been rewarded with the captain’s armband for his country.
His crunching, no-nonsense tackles have endeared him so much to the fans that we have even overlooked his early adoption of a spectacularly poor example of the porn star ‘tache that has sadly returned to male fashion. It still looks like it will blow off every time the stands erupt with a cry of ‘Hu-u-u-u-u-m-m-m-e’.
The sight of Ben Brereton-Diaz being swept from the Wembley turf and deposited over the touchline was one of the defining moments in the play-off final, and Hume would repeat it as ten-man Sunderland fought for a point against Aston Villa, with Morgan Rogers on the receiving end. The boy from Ballymena was beginning to find his feet at the top level.
When Reinildo Mandava saw red against Villa, and his replacement, Arthur Masuaku, delivered an unconvincing performance against Manchester United, Hume slotted effortlessly into the left-back role against Chelsea and Wolves.
Whether he plays on the right or the left, Hume is a key element of Régis Le Bris’ five-at-the-back formation. It is invariably Hume who steps forward into midfield when the side has possession, sometimes overlapping but more often as an inverted full-back.
On Saturday, he was faced with the task of keeping Arsenal’s tricky and experienced winger, Leandro Trossard, quiet. It was a task he stuck to manfully, making interceptions and shepherding the Belgian into positions from which he struggled to deliver crosses. Trossard’s moment of glory came when Noah Sadiki faced up to him and failed to get close enough, as Hume covered the overlapping runner.
Hume is capable of delivering dangerous crosses, either from in-play attacks or from set-pieces. For free-kicks from the right, he will invariably line up over the ball with Granit Xhaka. Often, it will be the club captain who makes the dummy run or moves infield to take up a position on the edge of the box from which he can deliver a Howitzer if the ball falls to him. If Xhaka is happy to entrust set-pieces to the young Irishman, who are the rest of us to argue?
The Africa Cup of Nations is drawing ever closer, and it will be the left side of Sunderland’s defence that is likely to be absent, with both Reinildo and Masuaku expected to be selected by their national teams. With huge games coming up against Brighton, Leeds, Man City, Spurs, and Crystal Palace in that period, for any African team that reaches the latter stages, Hume’s ability to play on both sides is going to be invaluable.
Dennis Cirkin may be returning to fitness, but he is unproven at this level. In any case, with his contract expiring, he may depart the club when the transfer window opens on 1st January 2026.
Hopefully, Omar Alderete will have recovered from his concussion difficulties by then – Mukiele, Geertruida, Ballard, and Alderete are formidable options for Le Bris, but none appear better suited to fill the void on the left flank than the versatile Irishman.
There will be games in that period where Le Bris is likely to opt for five at the back, and Hume’s ability to transition into midfield will be crucial to how the side performs. As Régis Le Bris faces the reality of a run of games without his African stars, the boy from Ballymena is going to be vital.
