Unemployed ex-Premier League star offered surprise route back to top flight five years after he burst on to the scene

FREE AGENT Aaron Connolly is connected the verge of becoming portion of Sunderland’s promotion push.

The 24-year-old guardant has been without a nine since helium was released by Hull City successful June.

Republic of Ireland planetary Connolly burst connected the country with Brighton successful 2019 with a brace against Tottenham Hotspur.

He played 24 times successful the Premier League that season, scoring 3 goals, but helium failed to capitalise connected that agleam start.

Connolly had indebtedness spells with Luton, Middlesbrough and Italian nine Venezia earlier heading to Hull successful January 2023.

He scored 8 goals for the Tigers successful the Championship past word but that was not capable to gain him an extension.

However, helium is acceptable to beryllium handed a vocation lifeline by Regis Le Bris’ high-flying Black Cats.

Saturday’s 1-0 triumph implicit Middlesbrough was their 4th successful 5 league matches and aboriginal pace-setters West Brom are the lone broadside up of them.

Sunderland’s agleam commencement has travel contempt 19-year-old Eliezer Mayenda being their lone recognised striker.

Le Bris secured the signing of Ahmed Abdullahi connected deadline day, but the Nigerian accomplishment from Gent was instantly ruled retired for 3 months owed to needing groin surgery.

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Summer enlistee Wilson Isidor, a near winger, tin besides run arsenic a guardant but the North East broadside person moved to bolster their options.

Talks are progressing good betwixt them and Connolly’s representatives and some parties volition anticipation that the ace could beryllium progressive for the weekend’s travel to Watford.