Younes Kaboul is relishing a return to action with Sunderland’s first pre-season outing just hours away.
The Black Cats have worked tirelessly following a return to training completing a gruelling ten-day training camp in Austria, but with their fitness foundations in place the matches both they and the fans have been waiting for are finally here.
Hartlepool United are their first opponents with the Lads travelling to Victoria Park on Wednesday evening (KO 7.30pm), and speaking to safc.com Kaboul admitted he can’t wait to get back out there alongside his team-mates and the supporters.
“We’re looking forward to the game and we will put everything into it,” said Kaboul. “We will work hard with fitness coming first because in the first couple of games that will be the focus.
“We will put a good shift in and be focussed, but we also want to win the game.”
He continued: “Hartlepool will want to impress against a Premier League side and we know that because we’ve experienced it in the past, but we know how to handle that and for us the first target is to work hard on the pitch.
“We will also get to see the fans again – Watford seems a long time ago – so we’re very happy about that and they’re very welcome to come and see us at Hartlepool and anywhere else we play.
“It is great to play a local side.”
