Five of the best to have played for both Sunderland and Oxford United ahead of FA Cup clash | OneFootball

As Régis Le Bris’ Sunderland head to Oxford United for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round, we pick five who shone for both clubs. Sunderland Echo highlights the links.

Marco Gabbiadini, one half of the 'G Force', hit 87 in 185 for Sunderland from 1987 to 1991, scoring in the play-off win at Newcastle. He joined Crystal Palace, then Derby, and had a short Oxford loan in 1997.

John Byrne illuminated 1991-92, scoring in every FA Cup round en route to Wembley. He missed in the final against Liverpool to become the 13th to score in every round. Denis Smith later signed him for Oxford, where he hit 18 in 55.

Billy Whitehurst, the 'hardest man in football', moved to Oxford in 1986 after a spat with Newcastle supporters. After 49 U’s games he left following a clash with Ray Graydon, then joined Sunderland and scored three in 18.

Oxford-born Dean Whitehead made 136 U’s appearances and was 2003-04 Player of the Year. He joined Sunderland in June 2004, with a tribunal later setting a £150,000 fee. He captained Roy Keane’s side and played 200 games before moving to Stoke in 2009.

Chris Maguire helped Oxford’s 2015-16 promotion with four in the last six, then hit a career-best 17 the next season. At Sunderland he produced 28 goals in 125 games, including the play-off semi-final decider at Portsmouth. After a 2020-2021 fall-out with Lee Johnson, he returned for Lincoln to score a hat-trick.

Source: Sunderland Echo