Sunderland's most relied on players ahead of League One run in

Alex Neil will be hoping six Sunderland players are fit an ready ahead of a crucial run of League One fixtures. Ross Stewart, Carl Winchester, Callum Doyle, Dan Neil, Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin are the six players to have featured the most for the Black Cats this season, according to WhoScored.

League One top-goal scorer, Stewart, leads the way for the Black Cats having featured in 39 games, racking up an impressive 3,454 minutes of action to date. There can be no arguing, the Scot has been Sunderland's best player this year, with an impressive 22 goals and four assist whilst leading the line.

His form saw him called up to the Scotland squad for the first time in his career and the Black Cats head coach will need him firing if the Wearsiders are to achieve anything this season. Avoiding injury will also be key, no matter how key Stewart is to Sunderland they can't afford to burn him out.

Carl Winchester has featured the second most for Sunderland, having played 2,930 minutes in a number of positions. Neil said: "I wouldn't even call Winnie a midfield player now, I would say he is a right-back for us, or a right-sided centre-back. He's really good on the ball."

Manchester City loanee Callum Doyle is the third most picked player for the Black Cats this season having played 2,928 minutes. A remarkable feat for a centre-half who has not long turned 18. The youngster certainly has a bright future ahead of him.

Another youngster who's left his mark on Sunderland supporters this year, is Dan Neil. There have long been calls from the red and white faithful for the midfielder to play more regularly and they've got their wish this season.

The Sunderland academy graduate played an integral part of the Wearsider's Carabao Cup