Corry Evans admits Sunderland players were thankful of a brief pause in the campaign after a hectic start to the Championship season. The Wearsiders have already seen a managerial change at the helm, with Alex Neil departing for Stoke City and Tony Mowbray coming in to steady the ship.
The nature of the current campaign and the need to cram in games for the World Cup, means Sunderland have played two games a week on most occasions. However, with the World Cup now in full swing, the Black Cats were given just over a week off before returning to training in Dubai.
"It’s quite similar in that I normally go away on internationals in November time but it does have a sort of pre-season feel about it” Evans told SAFC.com. “But it will all be geared up towards our first game back against Millwall on the 3rd.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray explains Sunderland's Dubai decision as Black Cats head out on warm weather training
“It’s nice to get the little break because it has been a pretty hectic start back into life in the Championship. It was good to spend some time with the family.
"I think all of the lads enjoyed the small break where we could switch off for a week but now it’s back to down to business where we can crack on and focus on the next game coming up in a couple of weeks. Reassess and try and kick on for the second half of the season.”
The warm weather training camp in Dubai will present Mowbray with an opportunity to get some ideas across to the squad having joined the club midway through the season to date.
“It will be massive," Evans added. "The manager has come in through the season so he hasn’t really had a pre-season where he can try different things in training.
“This week, he is really looking forward to it with all the coaching staff to try and implement his way of playing more within the squad. We’re all looking forward to what the week holds.”
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