The Sunderland players you can expect to see in action tomorrow & the youngsters set for a huge opportunity
By Phil Smith
Published 2nd Jul 2021, 12:30 BST
Updated 2nd Jul 2021, 12:42 BST
Sunderland’s pre-season campaign begins in earnest on Saturday when the team travel to Spennymoor for a training friendly.
Lee Johnson welcomed a threadbare squad back to the Academy of Light on Monday, but was given a considerable boost on Wednesday when Aiden McGeady put pen to paper on a new one-year deal.
Having trained with his team-mates in the latter half of this week, the winger could be involved as the Black Cats step up their preparations for a new League One campaign.
As it stands, Sunderland are still yet to reach agreements on the futures of Luke O’Nien, Denver Hume and Charlie Wyke.
Wyke is expected to leave in search of a new opportunity, while there remains hope at this stage that O’Nien and Hume can be convinced that their future is best served by remaining on Wearside.
Either way, none of that trio will be involved on Saturday and that leaves Johnson with a small group of senior professionals for the training exercise.
However, the absence of summer signings so far means there is significant opportunity for a cohort of young players who have stepped up to join the senior group this week.
Anthony Patterson, Ellis Taylor, Ollie Younger, Dan Neil and Josh Hawkes are all being given the opportunity to show they can play a part in Johnson’s group this season, while a number of other U23s are currently stepping up to strengthen the numbers.
Here’s who you can expect to see in action as the 2021/22 campaign gets off to a low-key start.
As it stands, Sunderland are still yet to reach agreements on the futures of Luke O’Nien, Denver Hume and Charlie Wyke.
9. CM/CAM ELLIOT EMBLETON
Sunderland face a battle to retain Embleton after his successful loan at Blackpool; with Neil Critchley's side not the only club interested.
For their part, the Black Cats have insisted that they will now give the attacking midfielder significant opportunities. Injuries have come at a bad time for Embleton over the last couple of years but it remains an eye-catching stat that he is yet to start consecutive league games for the club. In a leaner squad, Embleton's versatility should secure regular minutes. He can play in a central attacking role, but what was arguably most impressive about his stint at Blackpool was the discipline he showed on the right of a 4-4-2.
His ability to ensure the balance of an attacking side was not affected will surely have caught the eye. The key now is to convince Embleton that his development will be best served on Wearside, and to give him a run in the side. Then, it's up to Embleton.
That starts Saturday. Photo: FRANK REID 2019
Like Embleton, the departure of Chris Maguire was in part to help serve the development of Jack Diamond.
Diamond's talent and ball-carrying ability caught the eye last season, and he has worked intensely on his final ball with Johnson.
Diamond as much as any other player fits the development profile that now underpins the club's wider strategy, and he has a big chance in this run of games to show he is ready to very much be a senior player in a squad pushing for promotion. Photo: FRANK REID 2020
News of a new contract this week was a significant boost for club and fanbase alike, and perhaps most encouraging of all is that for the first time since dropping into League One, it is the first time McGeady has been able to enjoy a full pre-season. Photo: FRANK REID 2019
Sunderland were hoping to secure Charlie Wyke to a new deal but his form last season meant that has always looked a long shot.
The Black Cats will therefore almost certainly look to recruit a new striker this summer, but they have high hopes for Stewart and his form towards the end of last season underlined why.
Also capable of playing off the left flank, he will be a central squad player next season. Photo: FRANK REID 2020