Mogga: Sunderland had to spend - I just hope they keep the togetherness

Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has opened up on his one 'big worry' for the Black Cats' Premier League season and revealed how Dan Neil may be feeling after losing the captaincy to Granit Xhaka.

- by Sport Reporter

Speaking exclusively on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast with Sam Allardyce, Mowbray explained that his main concern lies in whether Sunderland can maintain the togetherness that was key to their success during his tenure.

"My only fear for Sunderland, and I think they're going to do okay, but when I was there, the strength of that football team was a core group who actually loved each other, and drove each other on," Mowbray said.

"Luke O'Nien came from Wycombe Wanderers for buttons, and he was always bang on it every single day, and made everybody do the same.

"Everybody did their extras, nobody was cutting any corners, the group was so tight and they self-drove each other, so my job was pretty easy, really.