Sunderland have recovered much of the pride lost after their recent Tyne/Wear derby humiliation at Newcastle with seven EPL points out of nine, including a truly remarkable victory at leaders and title favourites Chelsea.

Victory over Stoke City at the Stadium of Light and a fine point at Tottenham, repaired the damage to the Black Cats’ league standing.

But the Stamford Bridge triumph last Sunday – every bit as comprehensive as the 3-0 final score suggests – erased much of the St James’s Park debacle from Sunderland memory banks.

The evening before being instrumental in the triumph, Black Cats midfielder Jordan Henderson was called up for England’s squad to face France in this week’s Wembley friendly.

After the Chelsea victory, a typically forthright Black Cats boss Steve Bruce said: “Two weeks ago, we were hanged, drawn and quartered and we were humped by seven (7-2) here last year.

“So this is probably my proudest moment as Sunderland’s manager. It’s not often you beat this lot 3-0 in their backyard.”

Indeed, Sunderland have rarely won in anyone else’s “backyard” recently. This was their first EPL away win since April.

Bruce called Sunderland-born Henderson’s England call-up “a fantastic achievement for him and people at the club.”

The 20-year-old played the 90 minutes of the 2-1 defeat in a holding midfield role which Bruce described after the match as “a little bit restricted.” But Bruce added: “I think Jordan did as well as anybody else.”

Sunderland host Everton in this week’s EPL Monday night fixture.