Romaine Mundle is the new name on everyone's lips along the River Wear after the youngster scored the winning and only goal of the game against Burnley last Saturday. But who exactly is he? And is he fit to fill the Jack Clarke shaped void at the Stadium of Light?

Where did Romaine Mundle come from?

Born in Edmonton, North London on the 24th of April 2003, Mundle studied at Enfield Grammar School but received his footballing education from Tottenham Hotspur. Playing in Spurs’ academy throughout his teenage years, the winger penned a first professional contract with the Premier League club in May 2021 aged just 18. But after two seasons of being an U23 regular yet without any first team action, he rejected a new contract offer opting for a move abroad to Belgian outfit, Standard Liege, ahead of the 23/24 season. Unfortunately after just half a season at the club, Mundle had failed to make the impact he imagined, with just six Belgian top flight appearances to his name, and no goals to show for it. With change needed once again, Sunderland entered the picture in the winter transfer window, and a deal was agreed (around £1 million upfront) in early February of this year for Mundle to return to England to take on the Championship.

A behind-the-scenes look at Romaine Mundle’s first day! 🎬 pic.twitter.com/NtM7AaNXq3

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 1, 2024

Romaine Mundle’s time at Sunderland so far

Players joining late into a season often struggle to make an impact, but Mundle managed to make appearances in 11 of the 16 possible Championship fixtures from his debut onwards. Despite scoring just once (against Southampton in a 4-2 defeat at St Mary’s) last season for the Black Cats, Mike Dodds, the man who saw out Sunderland’s 23/24 campaign as caretaker manager described him as; “a player fans should be excited about”. He also compared him to the man he is set to replace saying: “I see a similar type of player to Jack Clarke. If he listens and works hard, there is always an element of luck in development as well, but I think we've potentially got a real top, top player.”

Matchday three was the wingers first start this season, and he rewarded new manager Regis Le Bris’s choice with a goal, cutting in from the left wing on his right foot and firing it past half of the Burnley squad into the far right bottom corner, an unstoppable strike. A potential signifier of what's to come from Mundle in red and white stripes this season.

ROMAINE MUNDLE! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/nDVzWTDWwh

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 24, 2024

What is Romaine Mundle’s play-style?

His goal last Saturday wasn’t anything new as it is a trademark move of his. An often selfish player who relies on his pace, power and trickery to excel on the pitch, Mundle looks full of raw potential that under the right manager could be honed into a team's star attacker. Despite the previous mention of selfishness, Mundle still has an eye for a pass, which was seen just five minutes into last Saturday’s game as he perfectly set up Chris Rigg’s eventually missed effort. That being said speed and agility will only get him so far, questions will have been raised about his first failed attempt at football outside the academy in Belgium.

Jack Clarke was adored at the Stadium of Light for two and a half seasons, and last weekend felt like a passing of the torch as speaking to the Northern Echo, Mundle said Clarke had texted him prematch saying ‘you deserve this moment’. “He tells me to just keep doing what I am doing. He knows what I am capable of. He says keep shining, after all we have been friends since we were at Tottenham from when I was about 17.”