Pearson announced his surprise that the club earned just £2.8m from the summer sale of star defender Michael Turner, who was valued at over £10m at the time. Sunderland paid £4m for the centre-half, with his previous clubs Brentford and Charlton receiving a share of £1.2m in sell-on payments.

Turner has been in excellent form for the Black Cats this season, whilst Hull have severely missed his presence, leading to bemusement at how such a player could leave for a paltry fee. It can be said that the player wanted to leave, yet Sunderland aren’t renowned for being particularly frugal; it’s not just Pearson who finds it bizarre that Hull couldn’t extract more money for their prized asset.

The £6m summer signing from Wigan, who has made an impressive start at the Stadium of Light, was stretchered off in the 1-0 over Liverpool and now faces 12 weeks on the sidelines.

“It’s not good news, but it’s the best we could have hoped,” said Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.

“We were all praying he hadn’t done his cruciate and damaged cartilage, which thankfully he hasn’t – but he’s still out for the best part of three months.”