Sunderland’s players had a team meeting before the match, but Edwards claims the mood in the camp is good – particularly his own after only his second start since early February.

“It was just a bonding to kick-start us where we have been falling short, an opportunity for everyone to say their thing,” he explained. “We are all in this together. When one man’s down, everyone’s down. We stick together as a group, we had fallen short but we had to pick our heads up as a group and play the game.

“The mood at the moment is good. Everyone is buzzing. Some players are not happy because not everyone can play every week, but that’s the manager’s job. He makes some players happy and some unhappy. It is not just here at Sunderland, but we have to to be very professional in our jobs and just get on with it.

“It was a real boost to be selected against Manchester United. Things have not gone as planned this season or last season, but any time I was called upon I was always going to try and give 100% and I have to get back to doing what I do best.”