Danny Rose still has nothing but affection for Sunderland and is desperate for them to stay up, so long as the recovery starts after Monday's game against Tottenham.
The left back was a huge hit on-loan on Wearside last season, and has since returned to White Hart Lane and established himself as a regular in Tim Sherwood's side, and he is keen to credit the Black Cats for their role in that.
He told Tottenham's official website:
They [Sunderland] are having a bad time and are without a win from their last six games, but I really hope after we play them that they can win enough games to stay up.
I loved my time up there. Martin O'Neill was a great manager for me and he gave me a lot of confidence to go and express myself on the pitch. He was willing to give me games and I have a lot to thank him, the club and the Sunderland fans for.
I hope they stay up, there isn't a much bigger prize to fight for than Premier League survival and that's the position they find themselves in.
Facing good, popular former loanees is a galling experience and one that, sadly, Sunderland fans have been forced to get used to in recent years.
Nice to be nice and stuff, but... (*sigh*) you know...