New Sunderland signing Jan Kirchhoff boosts fitness in friendly win

New Sunderland signing Jan Kirchhoff got a much-needed chance to boost his match fitness after playing in a behind-closed-doors encounter against Sheffield United.

By The Newsroom

Published 20th Jan 2016, 09:06 BST

Updated 20th Jan 2016, 09:14 BST

Kirchhoff endured a miserable debut for Sunderland in last weekend's defeat at Spurs after the German centre-half's lack of action at former club Bayern Munich took its toll.

But Kirchhoff had a run-out at the Academy of Light yesterday afternoon, when he was on the scoresheet in a 2-0 friendly victory over the Blades.

The 25-year-old - playing in a defensive midfield role - opened the scoring with a header, before Mikael Mandron doubled Sunderland's advantage with five minutes to go.

Kirchhoff was not the only member of the first-team squad to feature, with Steven Fletcher, DeAndre Yedlin and Adam Matthews - back after an ankle injury - all playing a part.

Sunderland XI: Stryjek (Talbot 46), Yedlin, Matthews, Brady, Beadling, Agnew, Kirchhoff, Mavrias (E Robson 46), Agnew, Gooch (Lawson 46), Greenwood (Smith 46), Fletcher (Mandron 46).