Former Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca says "it's time for the club to be back in the Premier League" as they prepare for the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United. The Black Cats play the Blades at Wembley on Saturday and Arca told BBC Radio Newcastle: "When the game arrives tomorrow, I think the players will feel that atmosphere.

The richest fixture in world football is upon us as Sheffield United and Sunderland battle for the last remaining spot in the Premier League.Promotion to the Premier League this season is expected to come with a windfall of up to £220m,

The good news for Wilder’s side is that the team finishing the regular season in third place has both reached the final (16 times) and won promotion via the play-offs to the Premier League (nine times) more than any other league position since the Championship rebrand in 2004/05.

Keane has warned both play-off finalists they must be ‘harder to beat’ than Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City, who were all condemned to an immediate return to the Championship after securing promotion into the Premier League just 12 months ago.

Sunderland are preparing to take on Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final today (3pm) as they aim to achieve their Premier League dream. The Championship play-off final is held at Wembley Stadium,

Sunderland are one game away from ending their eight-year absence from the Premier League but will have to upset the odds to beat Sheffield United in Saturday's Championship promotion playoff final at Wembley.

Sunderland play Sheffield United at Wembley for a place in the Premier LeagueThey used to arrive talking about being the one to turn around the oil tanker.They tended to leave not that long after, the rest of us talking instead about the poisoned chalice.