SOME will say, ‘It’s just the Checkatrade Trophy’, and in the cold light of day, of course it is. But when you’ve been as battered and bruised as Sunderland over the course of the last few years, any hint of success is something to be seized.

So while Jack Ross will continue to use the Checkatrade as an opportunity to blood youngsters, and opposition supporters might sneer at the 1,500-strong travelling support that flocked to Morecambe on Tuesday night, you’ll struggle to find too many people on Wearside willing to do the competition down.

Yes, the Football League Trophy has become something of a standing joke, with its Under-21 teams and convoluted rule book. Yes, it should really be beneath a club like Sunderland, with its proud cup heritage and recent ten-year spell in the Premier League. But Wembley is Wembley, and a trophy is a trophy. So, to the Black Cats at least, tomorrow’s last-32 draw is an event to look forward to.

“We’re in this competition and we want to win every game, so of course we want to win this competition as well,” said centre-half Glenn Loovens, who returned to Sunderland’s starting line-up on Tuesday night.  “The fact it's at Wembley is a bonus for everyone involved because it's something special.

“I have to say I don’t have really fond memories about Wembley myself. I lost two finals there. But third time lucky, that’s what they say.”

Loovens can also vouch for the Checkatrade Trophy’s value in terms of providing a first-team opportunity to players that might otherwise be kicking their heels on the sidelines.

A number of youngsters have made their senior Sunderland debut in this season’s three Checkatrade games, but Ross has also used his side’s matches against Stoke Under-21s, Carlisle and Morecambe to keep some of his more senior squad members fresh.

Josh Maja made a goalscoring return to the starting line-up at Morecambe’s Globe Arena, Max Power got some much-needed minutes under his belt after missing most of last month through suspension, and Loovens made his first start since a hamstring injury sidelined him at the end of September.

In his absence, Tom Flanagan has formed an effective partnership with Jack Baldwin, so Tuesday’s game gave the 35-year-old centre-half a welcome opportunity to remind his manager of his assets.

“A lot of us have not played for a while, so for us it was a good workout,” said Loovens. “We had to turn up with the right mentality otherwise it can turn into a battle.

“I think we showed that we came with the right attitude. Max, after a few suspensions as well, had to get back in the swing of things, and Bryan (Oviedo) as well. It was good for the ones who have not played regularly – it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Loovens’ challenge now is to force his way back into Ross’ preferred League One line-up, starting with this weekend’s home game with Wycombe Wanderers. However, with an FA Cup second-round game at Walsall scheduled for the start of next month, along with Sunderland’s next game in the Checkatrade, the Dutch defender is anticipating a fair amount of rotation in the next few weeks.

“In England, the leagues are so, so tough, and then you’ve got the cup competitions as well so you need everyone in the squad,” he said. “We have proved that as well, that we're going to need everyone.”