Former Leeds United and Sunderland defender Michael Gray has delivered his verdict on which of the three newly-promoted clubs will retain their place in the Premier League.
Both Leeds United and Sunderland have enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season, sitting outside of the bottom three during the international break.
It is a case of what might have been for Daniel Farke, who has watched his Leeds side drop several points late on in games.
Leeds face a crucial clash against Burnley in their next fixture after the international break, and a win would move them up to 11 points after just eight games.
Now, Gray, who enjoyed two loan spells at Elland Road, has delivered his verdict on whether Leeds, Sunderland or Burnley have enough to stay in the top flight.
Michael Gray delivers Leeds United survival verdict
Speaking to TalkSport, Gray praised Sunderland for the way they have started the season under head coach Regis Le Bris.
According to Gray, the Black Cats are the best placed of the newly-promoted sides to stay in the top flight. However, he expects the survival race to be closer than ever.
Gray said: “The Sunderland supporters have all bought into it, and they’re having an amazing time. I look at Leeds and Burnley the same, but it’s key what you mentioned there – home form is absolutely massive.
“Look, I’m not going to sit here and say Sunderland won’t be in a relegation fight by the end of the season – I’m not that silly.
“I think Leeds United and Burnley will be down there as well. But you look at Wolves, West Ham, Brentford – you don’t always know what you’re going to get from them week to week.
“There are going to be other sides down at the bottom, which makes it a much more competitive fight than the last two seasons. But what I’ve seen so far from Sunderland has been absolutely top class.”
When did Michael Gray play for Leeds United?
Gray was a firm favourite at Sunderland, having enjoyed a 12-year stay with the club between 1992 and 2004.
However, he left the North East in 2004 to move to Blackburn Rovers, where he was less settled, and spent two separate spells on loan with Leeds.
Michael Gray at Leeds United
- 2005 – 10 games under Kevin Blackwell
- 2007 – Six games under Dennis Wise
The first came as part of Kevin Blackwell’s squad in Leeds’ first season in the Championship, playing 10 times after joining in February 2005, as a rotating cast of loan players came and went from Elland Road.
Gray returned to Leeds for a subsequent spell under Dennis Wise as Leeds battled against relegation in the 2006/07 season. He played six times in his second stint at the club as Leeds dropped to League One.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
