Ex-Black Cat Mandron Looks Ahead To Returning To The Stadium Of Light This Evening.

Mikael Mandron says he is once again looking forward to returning to his former club this evening.

The French striker, 26, started his career as a youngster with the Black Cats, making three appearances in the Premier League before eventually leaving for Eastleigh on a permanent basis in the summer of 2016.

Mandron, who has scored five goals in seven games, since joining us from Gillingham in the summer, only has fond memories of his time spent at the Stadium of Light.

Ahead of tonight’s game, the Boulogne-born forward told crewealex.net: “I had many great years at Sunderland. It is a huge club and when I was there the club was in the Premier League and had no financial problems.

“They had some top players like John O’Shea and Wes Brown and the fans are incredible. They used to be in the stadium, singing and getting behind the team for 90 minutes. The manager chopped and changed the team a lot which made things difficult and we lacked consistency - but it is always nice to go back there.

“I had an amazing time as a young player trying to make it through and play in the Premier League.

“It is the fixture I look forward to. I cannot wait to test myself against them because they are such a big club and hopefully they can get back to where they belong before too long.

“I only wish them well after our game. I have a job to do and we have a great chance of  getting something from the game. The pitch is big and always a good surface and of course they won’t have those great fans behind them inside their stadium.

Mikael added: “We are four games unbeaten now in all competitions and hopefully, we can go there and keep that unbeaten run going.”