Sunderland have outlined their pre-season plans ahead of their return to the Championship - with Alex Neil's squad set to head to Portugal as part of their preparations. The Black Cats senior players will report back to the Academy of Light for pre-season training four weeks today, on Wednesday, June 22.
They will play a number of behind-closed-doors friendlies before jetting out to Portugal in early July for a week-long training camp, which will also include two warm-up games, although their opponents are yet to be confirmed. Sunderland will return to Wearside and play a further four domestic friendlies before the Championship campaign begins on July 30.
Those four friendlies will be played away from home, to allow for work to take place on the Stadium of Light pitch following this summer's programme of concerts with Ed Sheeran and Elton John due to play on Wearside in June. Sunderland are expected to confirm the dates, opponents, and ticketing details for their friendlies in the coming days and weeks.
