Sunderland confirm pre-season start as World Cup cohort given extended leave | OneFootball

Sunderland will return to the Academy of Light next Wednesday to start pre-season testing, the club confirmed.

It will be a smaller group than usual, with those involved in this summer’s FIFA World Cup granted an extended break, so several academy players are expected to train with the first team.

The 12 World Cup players will come back in stages across July, with some likely to link up on the United States tour. As a result, the York City opener on 18 July is expected to feature academy involvement.

Those whose countries reach the latter stages are due back in early August. Sunderland will play two friendlies against top-flight French opposition before the Premier League campaign begins at Portman Road on 22 August.

Pre-season fixtures: York City away on 18 July. Liverpool in Nashville on 25 July, Leeds United in New Jersey on 30 July, and Wrexham in Chester, Pennsylvania on two August. Then RC Lens twice in France on eight August, first behind closed doors at their training ground then at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, before Stade Rennais visit the Stadium of Light on 15 August.

Source: Sunderland Echo