John Egan is already looking forward to Brentford's trip to Sunderland next season.

The Bees will face the recently relegated Black Cats for the first time since 2006 when they beat them in the FA Cup thanks to two DJ Campbell goals.

Egan signed for Sunderland in 2011 after playing for Greenwood FC and, while he never made a first team appearance for the Wearside club, he still has fond memories of his time in the north east.

“It will be great to get back up there and play against Sunderland,” Egan told the club's official website.

“I still have a few friends playing for them so it’s one that I have kept an eye on. Everywhere you look there are big clubs but we have shown this year that it doesn’t matter how big a club you are, everything goes on the pitch.

“It doesn’t matter what is in the stands or who is watching, it is all about 11 versus 11 on the pitch.

“Just because you are a big club that doesn’t mean it is a given you will walk out and get three points.

“We have full confidence in our ability and we feel like, on our day, we can beat anybody. That is a great thing to have.

“We also have a lot of driven individuals who want to get to the top and that is a massive thing to have in the changing room.”

Egan scored four goals for Brentford, including two on his home debut, in his first full season in the second tier.