Mark Atkinson is raring to go ahead of Sunderland under-18s’ opening pre-season friendly this weekend.
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The young Black Cats play host to Gateshead in a behind closed doors friendly at the Academy of Light this Saturday.
And following two weeks of intense training, Atkinson has told safc.com he is relishing getting back into the swing of matches ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.
“It is very much all about getting back to playing and we have had a good weeks training leading into this match on Saturday,” he said.
“We have got a way of playing and it is just about getting the lads back into the routine and our way of playing.
“There has been a big emphasis in the last few weeks about our shape and how we set-up when we haven’t got the ball.
“We want to enjoy having the ball,” he continued.
“We don’t want to force it and have to worry about turning possession over all the time.
“Those are the main things we want to work in this weekend.”
