TONY MOWBRAY has admitted he did not know who Trai Hume was when he took over at Sunderland – but the Black Cats boss readily admits the defender has rapidly turned himself into one of the most important members of the first-team squad.

Hume moved to Wearside from Northern Irish side Linfield in January 2022, but barely featured in the second half of last season under Alex Neil.

The same was true of the current campaign, with the 21-year-old making just two brief substitute appearances in the first 14 league matches as Neil was replaced by Mowbray.

Things changed on Boxing Day, when Hume came off the bench to replace Dennis Cirkin against Blackburn, and shifted again three days later when the absence of both Cirkin and Lynden Gooch saw the Northern Ireland international promoted to the starting line-up for the 4-1 win at Wigan.

Hume has not looked back since, starting all bar one of Sunderland’s subsequent matches, and he is set to play a crucial role in the remaining five games that will determine the club’s play-off fate.

“I’ll be honest – I didn’t really know Trai as a player,” said Mowbray, ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Birmingham City. “He was a squad player, he wasn’t playing, and he was the one that always seemed to be left out on a matchday.

“But the bottom line is that, right from day one, he showed in training how talented he is. He showed straight away how good he is, and I remember him knocking on my door and asking when he was going to get an opportunity.”

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That office encounter played a crucial role in transforming Hume’s fortunes as it pushed the youngster to the forefront of Mowbray’s thoughts and convinced the Black Cats head coach of his driven mentality.

“In my first meeting with the players, I always tell them that my door is wide open and invite them to come and chat,” said Mowbray. “I know what footballers are like – sometimes they can find it difficult to go and talk to the manager.

“I like players who do that because when I’m looking ay my board and picking my team and putting my subs up, it puts them into my thoughts. It makes me question and think, ‘Does he deserve an opportunity?’

“Trai got an opportunity, grabbed it with both hands, and hasn’t looked back. Now, he just needs to keep pushing on, keep improving and keep staying strong.”

While Hume has established himself as Sunderland’s first-choice right-back in the last couple of months, he was pressed into action as an emergency centre-half when Luke O’Nien was ruled out of last weekend’s game at Cardiff City because his wife was on the verge of giving birth.

Hume responded with an accomplished central-defensive display, and just as O’Nien’s versatility has made him an extremely valuable asset during his Sunderland career, so Hume’s ability to switch positions could help him cement a place in the Black Cats’ first team over the next few years.

“I thought he did exceptionally well at the weekend, in the position we asked him to play,” said Mowbray. “We talk about going on a journey, with a growth mindset, and Trai is a fantastic example of that.”