The England international says he is excited about the goalscoring options the Black Cats will have when Roy Keane's squad is fully fit.

But he says that two of the least heralded members of the Black Cats squad are set to underpin everything positive about the team this season.

Although neither Tainio nor Whitehead have been regular headline-grabbers in their careers, the work they both get through in games is appreciated by their team-mates.

And it is that hard graft which tends to allow others the time and space to shine.

Richardson told SportMail: "Teemu fits the defensive role perfectly – sitting in front of the defence, breaking up play, getting the ball and passing it simply – and Deano does that as well.

"They both do it to high standards. You look for balance all over a team and often that's the way it works in central midfield with one playing a more defensive role and another a more attacking role.

"They fit that role perfectly. Hopefully the more and more we play together the more settled they'll get too, because that role can sometimes be one of the most important on the pitch."