The state of play with every Sunderland player as pre-season training finally begins

For now, the group are taking part in fitness testing and small-group sessions as they ease their way back in from a lay-off of over five months.

That Phil Parkinson’s group needs strengthening is clear, with a relatively limited number of senior players contracted to the club. One of those, Aiden McGeady, seemingly has little future under Parkinson.

But what about those who have returned?

Who looks central to the manager’s plans, whose future is uncertain, and who could be on the verge of a breakthrough?

We run through them one by one to gauge the picture...

Goalkeepers

LEE BURGE

Parkinson has said he will bring in senior competition to push Burge but Jon McLaughlin’s departure leaves him with a major opportunity to make the number one shirt his own during the pre-season campaign.

ANTHONY PATTERSON

Highly regarded throughout the club, it could well be a tempting option to keep Patterson around, particularly as his age means he would not count towards the squad size cap likely to be voted through next week. However, Sunderland rightly feel experience in senior football is the next logical step for his career progression and so expect to see a loan move in the coming months.

Defenders

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LUKE O’NIEN

A key part of Parkinson’s system and with interest from clubs in the division above, a player who Sunderland will surely be considering a longer deal for.

Has been one of the few big successes since the club dropped into the third tier and is more important now than ever.

CONOR McLAUGHLIN

McLaughlin has a battle on his hands to win regular football ahead of O’Nien, having struggled to make a major impression in his first season on Wearside.

O’Nien’s attacking threat gives him the advantage but McLaughlin’s ability to play on the right of the back three could give him value to Parkinson.

JORDAN WILLIS

Arguably Sunderland’s most consistent player throughout last season, Willis will be central to Phil Parkinson’s plans.

Particularly at home, his ability to carry the ball forward became as big a weapon as his athleticism in defence. It will be an interesting campaign, with one year left on his deal. One many clubs will be keeping an eye on.

TOM FLANAGAN

The turn of the year, and Sunderland’s form, saw Flanagan make the spot on the left side of the back three his own.

It was a sign of how much Parkinson feels he is improving that he was offered a new deal when Alim Ozturk and Joel Lynch were not.

Particularly at home, Parkinson believes his work in possession and also in offering Hume protection is vital.

It’s a position, though, where strength in depth is clearly needed for the Black Cats with numbers low.DENVER HUME

Hume came through a difficult start to the season to cement his place in the side.

Defensively he still has much to work on but the 3-4-3 system played to his strengths. He caught the eye of many teams in the division, particularly at the Stadium of Light, with his ability to open up the pitch by carrying the ball from deep.

With just one left-sided full back on the books at the moment, it will be interesting to see what, if any, competition Parkinson brings in to sign him.

Central midfielders

MAX POWER

Power took on a more disciplined role after Parkinson’s arrival, effectively playing as a holding midfielder.

Protecting the back four and keeping the team’s shape, he was also the player who Sunderland often turned to when they looked to switch the play and find the wing-backs in advanced areas.

He will be a key part of Parkinson’s XI having worn the armband for much of the second half of the last campaign.

JOSH SCOWEN

There had been some uncertainty of the contract he signed in January but the clause which would have allowed a Championship side to sign him has passed and as such, he looks central to Parkinson’s plans in the current climate.

Sunderland’s form after his arrival meant he had to bide his time for a chance and when it came, a defeat to Bristol Rovers was followed quickly by the postponement of fixtures.

The time and effort Parkinson put into signing him showed how highly he rated him, and his energetic style seems perfectly suited to the box-to-box role required to play alongside Power.

It will be intriguing to see if Scowen can make the spot his own and make good on that investment.

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GEORGE DOBSON

36 appearances last season was a superb return after making the step up from Walsall.

That he kept Scowen out of the side so long was testament to the way he was able to execute Parkinson’s demands, as well as his improving discipline when the threat of suspension came around.

Has much to improve in possession and will face renewed pressure from Scowen, but has shown plenty of character during his time on Wearside so far.

GRANT LEADBITTER

It was immensely heartening to see Leadbitter returning for training at the Academy of Light.

As he always has done, the central midfielder will bring an excellent passing range but more importantly, total dedication and professionalism day in, day out.

Attacking midfielders

LYNDEN GOOCH

Gooch grew into a true senior player under Jack Ross but Parkinson’s arrival seems to have seen him go to another level.

For one, the 3-4-3 system allows him to stay central, which is where he wants to be.

It allows him to hurt teams on either foot and also suits his willingness to press opponents.

Such a direct player will always have frustrating moments in games but what was encouraging last season was the regularity with which he was starting to produce an end product.

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CHRIS MAGUIRE

Sunderland’s system relies heavily on Maguire to find that moment of quality, particularly with the midfielders behind rarely getting beyond the front three.

If the Black Cats are to improve on last season then they will need another big campaign from the popular attacking midfielder, whose contract extensions as one of the few stories to bring supporters joy in this typically uncertain summer.

ELLIOT EMBLETON

Without doubt, this is the most important campaign of Embleton’s Sunderland career to date. In the last year of his current contract and at 21, is fast approaching the point where regular football is crucial.

He thrived in the 3-4-3 system Sunderland have been playing during the last pre-season campaign, and his success at Grimsby proved the youth international can cut it at senior football.

Free of injury, he’ll likely start behind Gooch and Maguire in the pecking order but it will be fascinating to see just how much of a real opportunity he gets to prove his worth.

AIDEN McGEADY

McGeady will likely take a break after a demanding restart schedule with Charlton Athletic. He has little future under Parkinson and seems unlikely to join the first-team group while his future is resolved.

Strikers

CHARLIE WYKE

There were reports of interest from Ipswich Town earlier in the summer but it is highly unlikely that any bid would be entertained by Parkinson.

The Black Cats boss is keen to add another striker this summer but Wyke will see plenty of action having firmly established himself as the manager’s first choice last season, putting together a significant run of starts that had until that point eluded him on Wearside.

Parkinson clearly wants to play with a target man but it will be interesting to see if he also recruits a player whose game is to more naturally stretch the opposition defence.

That variety will be key, particularly given the way Sunderland’s excellent form gave way to some disappointing results as teams changed their approach before the early end to the season.

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WILL GRIGG

Grigg has said this summer that he is happy to stay at Wearside, but there have been equally pointed (and fair) comments stressing that the style of play, particularly during Parkinson’s early months, did not suit his game.

How much that has changed is up for debate and in response, Parkinson urged the striker to settle permanently in the north east.

In many ways, the situation has not changed since January.

Grigg does not look a key part of the starting XI, but it is debatable whether any other League One clubs will be able to raise the capital needed to sign him.

For now, the uneasy truce looks likely to continue.

A superb display against Tranmere early in Parkinson’s tenure underlined the ability he undoubtedly still possesses, but that we have not seen often enough in the last 18 months for so many reasons.

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