This will be the sixth league meeting between Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats have won three to Sheffield Wednesday’s two, though the Owls did triumph 2-0 last season.

Sheffield Wednesday have won two of their last three away league games against Sunderland (L1), having been winless in their previous nine (D3 L6).

Sunderland could win their opening two games of a second tier campaign for the first time since 1974-75, under Bob Stokoe. Indeed, if they win here, they’ll have as many wins in 2024-25 as they managed across their final 15 games of the 2023-24 campaign (2).

Josh Windass has scored in each of his last four Championship appearances, a run that includes a goal at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign – the 30-year-old is Wednesday’s joint-top scorer in the league under manager Danny Röhl (7 – level with Iké Ugbo).

The average age of Sunderland’s starting XI in their season opener against Cardiff was 23 years and 352 days; the youngest of any Championship side on MD1.

Sky Bet Championship: Pre-match stat pack

Sky Bet Championship: Pre-match stat pack