George Honeyman admits it's surreal that he will walk his boyhood club out at Wembley Stadium in a cup final on Sunday.
The Black Cats academy graduate will wear the captain's armband at the national stadium as they take on Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy final.
He'll be looking to become the first Sunderland captain since 1973 to lift a cup trophy at Wembley - and only a third in the club's history.
Having joined the club at ten years old and risen through the ranks, Honeyman debuted for the first team in 2015. He admits that he couldn't have even dreamed this current scenario up.
He told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday's final: "It’s cliché to say this is the stuff of dreams (leading his boyhood club out at Wembley).
“I can’t say I would have dreamed of this even when I made my first team debut because it’s that outrageous you wouldn’t even let yourself believe it.
“To not only captain this club, but to also lead us out at Wembley, it’s just surreal and I want to really take advantage of the day, take it all in and enjoy it.
“To have the chance to be part of the club’s history and be the first captain since 1973 to lift a trophy at Wembley is special. It doesn’t come around much, and some don’t even get the chance to do it at all. So for me to get the chance to do that for my home club will be amazing.
“I just want to make sure I’m up on these walls celebrating something. We’re here now, so I want to go and win it.
“It’s Mother’s Day and my mam will be going. She’s a Sunderland fan, so I think I’ve presented her with a really good present this year! The winner’s medal and the trophy will be the ultimate prize though.”
Honeyman very nearly had to sit and watch the game from the Wembley stands himself though.
A red card at Wycombe earlier this month means he still has one match to serve of a three-game suspension.
Although this competition does not count towards that, Max Power was banned from this competition earlier in the season while he played out his league suspension.
Thankfully for the Black Cats skipper though, the rules were changed midway through the campaign meaning league suspensions no longer ruled someone out of playing in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Honeyman is naturally relieved, and admits the 48 hours after the Wycombe game, with uncertainty hanging over his Wembley appearance, were hard.
"After the Wycombe red card I thought I was going to miss the final and the emotional rollercoaster I went on in the next 48 hours after was a bit rough," he said.
"But I’ve been lucky and thankfully they’ve changed the rules and I’m allowed to play in the game."
Sunderland skipper George Honeyman has led by example, says Lee Cattermole
Sunderland vs Portsmouth Checkatrade Trophy final - Writers' line-ups for Wembley
