Sunderland confirm pre-season plan as World Cup cohort handed extended break | OneFootball

Sunderland will begin pre-season on Wednesday eight July, with a reduced group reporting for testing at the Academy of Light. The club confirmed several senior players are on extended leave due to FIFA World Cup commitments.

Twelve players involved at the tournament will return in stages through July. Some are expected to rejoin the squad on the United States tour. Academy players are expected to step up to train with the first team and could feature when York City host the first friendly on 18 July, three pm BST, at the LNER Community Stadium.

The United States leg features Liverpool at Geodis Park, Nashville on 25 July, five pm CDT, Leeds United at Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey on 30 July, seven thirty pm EDT, and Wrexham at Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania on two August, 12 pm EDT.

On eight August, Sunderland face RC Lens twice, first behind closed doors at the French club's training ground at 11 am BST, then at Stade Bollaert-Delelis at four pm BST. Stade Rennais visit the Stadium of Light on 15 August at three pm BST.

Players whose nations reach the latter stages are expected to return in early August. The Premier League campaign gets underway at Portman Road on 22 August.

Source: Sunderland Echo