Sunderland's first season back in the Championship may have ended in play-off heartache but it was a resounding success for a young Black Cats side that defied early pre-season predictions. Tony Mowbray and his side had to put up with more than their fair share of injuries and will be hoping for a quieter campaign on the injury front next season.
The Wearsiders were without their main source of goals in Ross Stewart and had a makeshift defence for the end of the Championship campaign. After the defeat in the play-off semi-final to Luton Town, attention has immediately shifted onto their summer preparations.
The Black Cats have said goodbye to loanees Amad Diallo, Joe Gelhardt and Edouard Michut - all three of whom enjoyed a strong end to the season. Replacing those players, as well as any who may leave on a permanent transfer this summer, will prove key in any Sunderland success next season.
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So what does the summer hold for Kristjaan Speakman? The Sunderland sporting director has enjoyed two-years of successful transfer windows since arriving on Wearside, but this summer is likely to prove his most difficult yet.
Tying the aforementioned Stewart down to a new deal should be his priority - with talk of negotiations falling quiet since his injury - but a back-up or replacement should also be high on the agenda. Gelhardt arrived at the club with the intention of playing alongside the giant Scot, but his injury scuppered those plans.
Ellis Simms' departure in January meant Sunderland had no other option but to play Joffy as a number nine - something neither party had planned for. A lesson the club must heed heading into next season.
The signing of a striker is a must for the Wearsiders this summer - on a permanent deal at that - to avoid a repeat of last season. Speakman rolled the dice back in League One with Jermain Defoe's signing, which didn't work out and injury to Nathan Broadhead meant Stewart was the only fit striker heading into the League One play-off final - a gamble which paid off.
However, Sunderland didn't have the same luck with injuries this season and missed Stewart up front. If the 26-year-old doesn't sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light, a new arrival would get 12 months to get up to pace and prepare for life after the Scotsman.
Much has also been made about the Black Cats being the youngest squad in the division as Kyril Louis-Dreyfus' plans for creating a younger Sunderland, came to light. Only Daniel Ballard (22) and Alex Bass (24), arrived over the age of 21, out of 14 new arrivals.
The youngsters had swagger and no fear, but lacked experience at moments throughout the campaign. A lack of senior players is something Mowbray himself has eluded to during his time at the club and Speakman could look to bring in signings older than last summer, with the foundations already in place for those youngsters to grow.
Bradley Dack is just one of a number of older players linked with a move to Wearside - an older more experienced head at 29-years-old and he's worked with Mowbray before at Blackburn Rovers. Even if he doesn't arrive at the Stadium of Light this summer, Speakman should look to add two or three older heads to help guide the youngsters through difficult moments in next season.
Finally, the Black Cats need some physicality in their ranks. It was one of the main factors Luton Town were so imperious in their second-leg win at Kenilworth Road and Mowbray has again eluded to a lack of height in his side throughout last season.
The Wearsiders have technical ability in abundance, but adding some extra grit would give his side a different weapon in their arsenal.
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