Sunderland’s under-23s are back in training and coach Elliott Dickman is relishing the prospect of pre-season.
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The young Black Cats enjoyed a superb season last year with a memorable European cup run leading to the Premier League International Cup final.
One season earlier, under the management of Robbie Stockdale, the under-23s went within a whisker of the Premier League title, and across the last 24 months a number of players have picked up individual awards.
And speaking ahead of a joint-training camp in Austria with the first team, Dickman revealed his thoughts ahead of a busy pre-season.
“Everyone has had a nice little break to recharge their batteries and refresh, but we’re happy to be back and looking forward to the start of the new season.
“It’s fantastic that we’re going away with the first team to Austria.”
He continued: “To be around the senior players will be great and it’ll help us to get ready for the new season.
“We’ll be working alongside them and it’ll be a good opportunity for them to get in front of the first-team staff, and although that won’t be new for some of them, it’ll be a new experience for some.
“Martin Bain has been massively involved with making sure the under-23s and the first team went away together and it’s the first time it’s happened in my time here, so it’s unique and it’s an opportunity we want to enjoy.”
Dickman also reflected on a busy summer for a number of his players, with many of the under-23s turning out in major international tournaments.
“Michael [Woud] went away with New Zealand to the under-20 World Cup which was a great experience for him, and Oscar [Krusnell] went away with Sweden for a friendly.
“Joel Asoro was also away with Sweden at the Euros and Elliot Embleton won the Toulon Tournament – a fantastic achievement – so it’s been great for the academy to have so many players featuring at international level.”
