I'm not sure the club will ever recapture that, to be honest. At least, not for a long while.

"Robert James "Robbie" Elliott" is an England/English former Association football/football Defender (association football)#Full-back/left back who is currently the strength coach for the United States U-20 men's national soccer team/United States U-20 men's football team.
His favoured position was left back but he could also play in central defence or in midfield. He is one of the very few players to have played for both Newcastle United and Sunderland F.C./Sunderland.
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