It's not often that an incoming strip can seemingly generate more warmth from supporters than the hope of incoming players.

The club has performed a minor miracle, a classic case of misdirection where a logo on the outside of the shirt can, momentarily at least, suppress the concerns about the identity of those who may perform in it - amazing what six letters, a ship and a few chevrons can accomplish. 

It has certainly allowed for sentiment to relegate the voice of those whose worries revolve much more around how the team will look beyond the aesthetics. 

I can reminisce with the best of them, after all the 'Hummel years' coincided with my brief time of life within the professional game. It was a period of fluctuating fortunes - promotion, relegation and, almost naturally for Sunderland, trips to the Twin Towers of Wembley and a journey back North with a post mortem concluding how we 'hadn't turned up on the day.'

We have about six weeks for the club to ensure the players, present and those to come, can begin September with a degree of fortitude and endeavour that reflects the builders of the ship that returns to pride of place on the keenly anticipated away strip. 

In bringing officialdom to long-held hopes, the club opted for a trip down memory lane tinged with humour. My former teammate Gary Bennett and a visit to the laundrette the scene to confirm the renaissance of the 1992 FA Cup final attire. One can only imagine Gary being informed several months ago that a video of him would soon go viral, at least in local terms. 

Hummel, and the club, will release the final instalment of the 2024 outfield trilogy in the coming weeks and, if the first two parts are replicated, both parties will benefit greatly from the emotionally driven investment of the support in Sunderland and beyond. 

 

READ MORE: Sunderland release 2024-25 Hummel away kit and details of how to buy

 

Naturally, the hope is this doesn't create buyers remorse at a later date. It's not unrealistic, nor unreasonable, to expect the Hummel-gotten gains to leave the club as quick as they have arrived to ensure Alan Browne is not the only player who places a Sunderland scarf atop each shoulder this side of crossing the England and Wales border in a few weeks. 

In that regard, reports suggesting Alexandre Mendy could be enroute are gathering traction. The instinct with someone in his position is to look at the goals tally over the course of a career. It may not provide the greatest of comfort or confidence, but given such a high percentage has come in recent seasons we can but hope any late development can persist should he cross the channel.

What offers more encouragement is that any such move, I trust, would have the influence of Regis Le Bris, given the French connection, rather than being wholly reliant on what data emerges from a PC, which is only as good as the information it is initially fed with. 

The season ahead is not as keenly anticipated as others. If the bookmakers are to be trusted then even a play-off position looks a distant prospect. 

I wouldn't be as downbeat. Sunderland may be bringing the ship in whilst hardly pushing the boat out, but it may be that a 20-goal striker would make a huge difference to a side that has shown promise up to and around the penalty box.