Trai Hume shares home loyalties as he opens up on Irish League title race

Trai Hume admits he is keeping a close eye on this season's Irish League title race. The 22-year-old Northern Ireland defender played for Linfield and Ballymena United before earning a move to Sunderland in 2022.

The Blues lead the way at the top this season, while his home club Ballymena have also flirted with the top spots following an impressive start to the campaign.

And Hume admits it has been exciting watching his home club scale the heights this term.

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"Yeah I've been watching it unfold. I would say I keep a closer eye on Ballymena than Linfield, because I am from Ballymena and my whole family is from the town and are Ballymena fans," he said.

"Linfield are usually at the top end of the table so you don't have to worry about them as much. They will always be up there.

"Ballymena had a great start to the season this year but probably haven't won as many games as they would have wanted recently, but I have no doubt they will bounce back. And there is no doubt Linfield will be challenging for the title."

Ballymena United have enjoyed a mesmeric rise this season, after needing a relegation play-off to secure their top-flight status last term.

Jim Ervin's men hit the top of the Premiership table last month, but recent results have seen them slip to fourth in the table.

Hume said: "It wasn't nice watching them in the relegation play-off last season. Ballymena for me is my home and very close to my heart, so seeing them doing so well in the league this season is what you want to see.

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"Hopefully they can keep building. They have a decent squad there."

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