Kyle Lafferty and Bailey Wright set to feature for Sunderland in behind closed doors friendly

The Sunderland duo will be just two of the players participating in the behind closed doors friendly, which will also involve members of the club’s under-23 side.

Lafferty has made two appearances from the bench since penning a short-term contract at the Stadium of Light, while Wright is still waiting for his debut after a half-season loan move was sanctioned earlier this week.

And the duo – who have been deprived of regular first-team football in recent months – will get a much-needed ninety minutes during the in-house friendly, which manager Phil Parkinson believes will an important fixture.

“We’re going to have a practice game tomorrow [Saturday] for a lot of lads out of the team, because we need some game time,” he explained.

“A lot of those lads who haven’t played recently including Kyle [Lafferty], Bailey Wright, will figure in that game tomorrow.

“I think that’s very important with the week we have ahead.”

And while he still has work to do on his fitness, Parkinson has been impressed by Lafferty during his brief cameos.

Indeed, he has backed the striker to keep improving in the coming weeks.

“We’ve got the options, and we need to get Lafferty up to speed,” added Parkinson.

“Tomorrow is important for him, but I thought when he came on he showed some good touches.

“He’ll get fitter and stronger by the day.”