LYNDEN GOOCH knows all about the extent of Sunderland’s suffering.

He might have been born in the Californian city of Santa Cruz, but having started to travel to England to train with Sunderland’s academy from the age of ten, the 23-year-old has lived through the upheavals that have brought the club to its knees.

Now, though, he is determined to play a prominent role in its recovery.

The Checkatrade Trophy should not figure highly on Sunderland’s list of ambitions. A competition that has become something of a laughing stock in recent seasons following the decision to allow academy teams to compete alongside full-strength sides from Leagues One and Two, it should arguably be beneath a club that has won six First Division titles.

For Sunderland, though, this month’s Wembley final against Portsmouth forms part of a process of rebirth.

Success breeds success, and if Sunderland can claim some silverware at the end of the month, their victory could prove a stepping stone to a more sustained recovery. Win the Checkatrade Trophy, then complete the process of securing automatic promotion out of League One. For a club that suffered the indignity of back-to-back relegations, that would be a much more positive double.

“Coming through the academy and having been at the club for a long time, to lift a trophy at Wembley for the club is something you dream of,” said Gooch, whose second-half strike helped set up Lewis Morgan’s goal on Tuesday. “To win trophies at Wembley, no matter what level you’re at, is special, so to hopefully be able to do that for Sunderland is amazing.

“We’re doing really well. We’ve got a cup final to look forward to, and hopefully we can get promoted. I’ve just had my son a month ago, so it’s been an amazing season so far. Hopefully, I can top it off with two trophies.”

Sunderland’s success in the Checkatrade Trophy underlines their standing as one of the leading clubs in League One, but it is also a consequence of Jack Ross’ willingness to treat the competition seriously from the outset.

The Sunderland boss has made changes to his team for the Checkatrade games, but has avoided the temptation to pack his side with a host of untried youngsters. A mix-and-match approach enabled the Black Cats to make it through the group stage, but since the turn of the year, Sunderland’s Checkatrade line-ups have grown increasingly strong.

Tuesday’s side featured just two alterations from the team that started against Plymouth last weekend – both were enforced – and while the forthcoming league games at Wycombe and Barnsley are obviously important, Ross clearly believes that maintaining a winning run is the best way to maintain momentum at the top of League One. The evidence so far, with Sunderland having lost just three matches in all competitions all season, suggests his policy is working.

“The gaffer said from the start it was a cup competition and we wanted to win every game,” said Gooch. “It’s important to keep that winning mentality and momentum.

“We’ve only lost two games in the league all season, so I think that speaks for itself as to how the group’s been. We have that winning mentality, no matter what game it is.

“Promotion is the priority - we know we need to get back into the Championship - but if you can go and win a trophy at Wembley, then why not? It’s what we dream of, you play for trophies. No matter what level you play at, you want to win trophies, and to play in a final at Wembley for Sunderland is a dream come true.”

Gooch’s challenge over the next few weeks will be to nail down his starting spot in the side that will line up at Wembley.

The midfielder was a regular presence in the side in the first half of the season, but has found himself shuffled to the substitutes’ bench on an increasingly regular basis in the last few weeks.

A niggling hamstring problem has not helped, while the January signing of Lewis Morgan has increased competition on the right-hand side of midfield.

Gooch’s drive and energy offer something different though, and it was telling that the substitute made an immediate impression when he left the bench shortly before the interval on Tuesday night.

“I feel like myself again now after a little dip,” he said. “Players go through that, and you've just got to keep working hard. I had a little hamstring injury as well, so maybe I just needed that little bit of rest and hopefully now I can kick on for the rest of the season.

“I feel much sharper, and I’ve done well in the last couple of games I’ve played so hopefully I can get back to that form.

“It’s the same for the team - you can see the confidence in everyone going forward. We’re a threat, and we created a lot of chances at Bristol in the second half. On another day we could have had three or four. Everyone’s feeling good and confident, and I think you can see that.”