Whether a young player coming through the ranks or an established figure who has fallen out of favour, pre-season is a time where impressions can be forged and key decisions made.
And that will certainly be the case at the Academy of Light this summer, where a number of players are set for a big few weeks as they look to catch the eye behind the scenes.
The Black Cats have so far confirmed just one pre-season friendly, but are set to be put through their paces by Johnson and his staff in a number of other warm-up games ahead of the big kick-off in August.
So which individuals are set for a big pre-season this year, and who should we be keeping an eye on as Sunderland return to action in early July? We take a look:
The Black Cats have so far confirmed just one pre-season friendly, but are set to be put through their paces by Johnson and his staff in a number of other warm-up games ahead of the big kick-off in August.