Sunderland are just over a week away from their first Championship fixture of the 2023/24 season - yet the Black Cats are still dealing with a few injury issues.
Head coach Tony Mowbray has been able to welcome some first team players back into his squad over the summer, after several were sidelined at the end of the last campaign.
Some players also missed Sunderland’s pre-season US tour as they continue to recover from injury setbacks.
Here are the players who have been sidelined in recent weeks and their situations ahead of The Black Cats’ season opener against Ipswich on Sunday, August 6:
5. Jenson Seelt
The Dutch centre-back, 20, made his first Sunderland appearance in the friendly win over North Carolina but was forced off after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury. Mowbray said after the match he didn’t think the setback was a serious one, yet Seelt didn't take part in the squad's open training session at the Stadium of Light. Photo: SAFC
6. Jay Matete
Matete, 22, was also forced off in the win over North Carolina after an impressive start to the match. It has since been confirmed the midfielder is set to be sidelined for between six to ten weeks with a knee injury. Photo: Chris Fryatt
7. Aji Alese
Despite playing in the second leg of the play-offs against Luton, the 22-year-old suffered a recurrence of the thigh injury which kept him sidelined last season and required surgery over the summer. Alese is set to miss the start of the season as he recovers from the setback. Photo: Frank Reid
8. Zak Johnson
The 18-year-old defender came off with cramp in the second half against North Carolina but will have benefitted from the experience travelling with the senior team on the US tour. Johnson has been training as normal since Sunderland's last match. Photo: Frank Reid