Leeds United and their newly-promoted counterparts Sunderland and Burnley have started life back in the Premier League very well overall.

Going into this season, a lot of the narrative around the Premier League was that the gap is far too big for promoted Championship clubs to compete.

The last two sets of promoted trios have dropped straight back down, but Leeds, Burnley and especially Sunderland, are showing that the jump up isn’t actually an impossible feat.

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Sunderland win, Leeds United draw as Gary Neville goes back on ‘fixed’ Premier League admission

The media last season were going very heavy on the idea that the Premier League is clearing an insurmountable gap to Championship clubs coming up each season.

So much so that Gary Neville mentioned in mid-April how the league was heading towards a more “fixed” position with the same 17 teams staying up year-on-year.

“I think that’s becoming more fixed as a position, and the competitive nature of the entire league is something definitely to be concerned about,” he said.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has previously insisted the gap is too big for promoted clubs such as Leeds United in the Premier League. (REUTERS/Peter Powell)

Well, the three promoted sides collecting a combined 23 points from their six games apiece is the best start from any trio of newcomers since the 17/18 season.

In the three, Leeds will be quietly enthused by their eight points and overall performances. However, Sunderland sitting 5th on 11 points after beating Nottingham Forest away from home is the biggest statement of the three clubs so far.

When asked by Peter Drury on Sky Sports’ Gary Neville Podcast about Sunderland’s start, the right-back was happy to eat his words about how competitive newly-promoted teams can be.

“I really like what I’ve seen [from Sunderland] and I’ve only seen highlights so far and parts of games but it’s brilliant what they’ve done,” Neville said at St James’ Park. 

“And we need to see teams from the Championship do well. We really need to see that as a big part of the Premier League. Teams need to be given encouragement without bankrupting themselves. I think what Leeds have done and Burnley have done and Sunderland, but look, it’ll still be difficult.

“It’s a great start for them, a great win at Nottingham Forest, a tough team to play for against the majority of last season, just finding their feet this season. What a great start for Sunderland, they deserve a special mention.”

Anyone who used a shred of context for the previous promoted teams could see that the gap wasn’t actually too big.

Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton, Luton, Burnley, and Sheffield United all either recruited terribly, were coached terribly, or were both.

The three sides that have come up this time around are the opposite on current evidence. All three know their limitations, so aren’t trying to pass like Pep’s Barcelona, and it’s paying off.

Recruitment is a big part, as we’re seeing this overhauled Sunderland side looking very much part of the league now, and hopefully plaudits come Leeds’ way soon enough too. Burnley’s run of games gets a lot more favourable too soon, so they may well start catching the eye.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!