TWELVE months ago, Chris Brown spent the final day of the season at Belle Vue helping Doncaster Rovers beat Carlisle United 1-0.

Given everything that has happened since then, it should be no surprise that the 20-year-old last night became the first Sunderland player to speak confidently of his ability to take similar strides forward next season.

With the euphoria of last weekend's Championship-clinching 2-1 win at West Ham gradually dying down, thoughts are inevitably turning towards the harsh practicalities of life in the Premiership.

Holding off Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand is one thing - enjoying similar success against his brother, Rio, will be something completely different.

But, after forcing his way into the Sunderland first team this season, Brown is defiantly optimistic about his prospects of continuing his rapid progress in the Premiership.

"If you don't believe in yourself, there's no point being in the game," said the striker, who is enjoying his second successive promotion after his loan spell coincided with Doncaster's passage into League One last year. "You have to believe in your own ability.

"This will be a chance to play against some of the best players in the world and I'm really looking forward to it.

"Every player wants to play in the Premiership. This could be the one chance I get, who knows? I will work hard all this summer and, when I come back, it will be a new start. Everyone has a point to prove.

"It's the best league in the world and we're all looking forward to it. It's going to be a good test, but it's one that we can't wait to start."

At the moment, all of Sunderland's players are winners but, come the start of next season, there will be inevitable losers as a result of the current campaign.

Manager Mick McCarthy is expected to bring at least six new signings to the Stadium of Light and, as a consequence, some players who were regular starters this term will find themselves banished to the bench at best.

On paper at least, Brown would appear to fall into that camp. The youngster might have started the last five games, but a record of five goals in 35 Championship appearances - albeit many as a substitute - hardly augurs well.

As McCarthy regularly reminds us, though, football is not played on paper and the bare statistics of the striker's season are misleading.

In the long-term absence of Kevin Kyle, Sunderland have spent the entire campaign shorn of a target man. McCarthy is anything but a long-ball specialist, but the Black Cats boss undeniably prefers to have the option of a physical striker able to lead the line.

Brown has grown into that role and, while the first half of the season saw him struggle to impose himself on the division's more physical defenders, recent months have seen him excel with his back to goal.

His presence undoubtedly helped Marcus Stewart score crucial goals against Wigan and Leicester, while his flick-on sent Stephen Elliott galloping clear for the strike that clinched the title at Upton Park.

"The manager has shown a lot of faith in me," said Brown. "I have always been on the bench through the season, and he has played me if someone has been injured or suffered a dip in form. I'm glad he has got faith in me and I hope I have done enough to repay him for that.

"It didn't even enter my head that I would play a part at the start of the season. I just tried to improve as a player, and everything else has fallen into place.

"I hoped I would get a chance, but to play such a big part in the run-in, and to have come on so many times through the season, has been an amazing experience."

Brown is just one of a number of youngsters to have shone this season but, while the likes of Elliott, Liam Lawrence and Dean Whitehead were brought in from elsewhere, the Sunderland-bred striker is a product of the club's Academy system.

His Wearside roots run deep - his father, Alan, made 124 appearances for the Black Cats in the 1970s and 80s - and Sunday's celebratory scenes at the Stadium of Light will be particularly poignant given that he was a fan when the club last tasted success in 1999.

"I went to a lot of games when Sunderland last won the title," Brown confirmed. "And that was an unbelievable experience.

"To have now played a part in winning a championship title is a dream come true. All my family and friends will be there at the weekend and they are all very proud.

"It will be a great occasion for the fans. There will be a full house and it will be a terrific day."

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