Granit Xhaka has promised a fiery European return for Sunderland as they prepare to host AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night. It will be the club's first continental fixture in over half a century.

The 33-year-old captain, who has played in two Europa League finals, set the tone for the historic occasion. "The stadium will be on fire," Xhaka said. "And I want to see our players on fire, on and off the ball." His commitment is a significant boost for a squad balancing a second Premier League season with European competition, having finished seventh last term to secure this adventure.

Manager Régis Le Bris echoed the sense of occasion, acknowledging the hard work that led to this point. "It’s a privilege to be here," the French coach said. "I’m proud but we’ve earned it, the players worked very hard last season." The match against the Dutch side, who are unbeaten in the Eredivisie with five wins and a draw, will be televised in high definition across much of the world.

A long-awaited return

Sunderland's last European campaign was in the 1973-74 European Cup Winners' Cup, a run they qualified for by winning the FA Cup the previous year. Their opening tie then was against Vasas of Budapest, a 3-0 aggregate victory sealed by a Dennis Tueart penalty in a second leg that attracted a crowd of under 23,000 despite doubled admission prices. The contrast with the near 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light awaiting AZ Alkmaar could not be starker, symbolising the club's modern growth.

Xhaka's experience is seen as vital for a group that includes several players with European pedigree like Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo, and Enzo Le Fée, whom Le Bris first worked with when the midfielder was just 12. The full squad will need to be ready for the demands of the competition. The captain resisted overtures to join Chelsea this summer, a club Sunderland famously beat at home four months ago to clinch that seventh-place finish. That victory over Chelsea was a key moment in a season that has now delivered this reward.

Balancing domestic demands

The European return comes as Sunderland handle a mixed start to the Premier League season. They were beaten 2-0 by league leaders Arsenal last time out, with goals from Bruno Guimarães and Bukayo Saka, leaving them eight points off the top. Their recent form reads two wins, a draw and two losses, with a key away trip to second-placed Manchester City looming this weekend. The team will need to manage their schedule carefully, with upcoming fixtures including that tough trip to the Etihad.

Injuries to Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle, will test the squad's depth, but experienced heads like Luke O'Nien, who was playing League One football for the club five years ago, are set to be part of the matchday squad.

Facing an AZ Alkmaar side featuring highly-rated 20-year-old midfielder Kees Smit represents a stern first test in Group G. A positive result would build momentum ahead of a potential glamour trip to the San Siro in December. For now, the focus is solely on delivering a performance worthy of the occasion under the lights. Sunderland's next domestic assignment is against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 20 September.

Read the full report at The Guardian Football