Kevin Phillips makes Sunderland AFC revelation - most Black Cats supporters will surely agree | OneFootball

The club's former talisman believes that they can make the step up to the top flight.

Kevin Phillips believes that Sunderland are "built for the Premier League" as they prepare to face Sheffield United for the chance to win promotion.

It'll be hard to find a football fan in the country who hasn't seen that Dan Ballard header against Coventry City. He cleared so many crosses over the two legs with his noggin', but it was his last one of the semi-final that was the decisive one.

The former Arsenal academy member jumped and then dipped down low to get on the end of Enzo Le Fee's last-minute corner to head it in off the crossbar, handing the advantage back to the Black Cats and, ultimately, booking them a place at Wembley in the Championship play-off final - AKA, the most lucrative game in English football.

It's been eight years since Sunderland were in the Premier League, a very long time ago, especially compared to their play-off final rivals, who were there just last term.

But now they are potentially just 90 minutes away from their long-awaited reunion with the English first division - a division which their former striker has said they are made for.

Kevin Phillips: Sunderland are "built for the Premier League"

Phillips, speaking on talkSPORT, heaped praise on head coach Regis Le Bris for what he's been able to do with such a young squad, getting them to the position where they are now. He thinks a return to the top flight would be "huge" for the football club.

"They've spent a long time away from the Premier League, four years in League One. Certainly from my time there I never envisaged Sunderland slipping down to League One.

"There has been a lot of heartache over the years, but they've gradually climbed their way back up. They find themselves in an unbelievable position now.

"Listen, we all know that the infrastructure is there at that football club. It's built for the Premier League, but that doesn't guarantee you (anything), and, you know, Premier League football, you have to earn that."

Championship play-off final is set to be a very tight affair

Outside of the automatic promotion winners, the play-off finalists were the two best defensive teams in the Championship this season, and that was reflected in the pair of contests in which they faced each other in the regular season. The home sides were victorious on both occasions, with each tie being won by just one goal.

It's hard to see how either Sunderland or the Blades could dominate one another at Wembley, so, like most play-off finals, this contest is likely to come down to the top players delivering in big moments for their clubs.