With a trip to Manchester City up first for Sam Allardyce’s side on August 13th, the Lads will then return to Wearside ahead of a hotly awaited fixture against newly-promoted Middlesbrough.
While the fixtures holds a certain significance in the north east, for Sunderland’s first team coach Stockdale, it will be extra special as he used to play for Middlesbrough.
Speaking to safc.com Stockdale admitted he is delighted to see Boro back in the top flight and is already savouring the thought of facing his old club.
“I suppose your first home game is always a big occasion,” he said. “To make it Middlesbrough at home just adds a little bit of spice for myself but it’s great to see them back in the Premier League.
“I think they have deserved it with how they played last year but hopefully our first home game will be positive for us, whether it be Middlesbrough or anyone else.”
After Sunderland’s two opening fixtures, a mammoth trip to Southampton follows before games against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
But while a challenging start lies ahead for the Black Cats, Stockdale has talked up the importance of a strong pre-season and believes that could be the key to Sunderland’s chances of having a fast start to the season.
“The level of the Premier League is so high and it proved last year with results that you can’t really predict what you are going to get out of each game but as long as we perform to a standard that we are happy with then hopefully the results will take care of themselves.
“We need to start the season better than we have done because we don’t want to be playing catch up with other teams and pre-season plays a major part in that.
“The planning has been put in place with the Euros and different competitions going on around the world,” he continued. “This year will be a little different as we will have different players reporting back at different times but if they are in competitions and playing matches then they will need time to rest which is just as big a part as the work.”
