The Lads have completed day one of their warm weather training week in Dubai with captain Corry Evans looking forward to reaping the benefits.
Tony Mowbray’s men were put through their paces in intense heat in the United Arab Emirates as they step up preparations for the second half of the Championship campaign.
The break for the World Cup has come at an unfamiliar point in the season but Evans, a seasoned international with Northern Ireland, is used to being away from the squad around this time of the calendar year.
“It’s quite similar in that I normally go away on internationals in November time but it does have a sort of pre-season feel about it” the midfielder told SAFC.com. “But it will all be geared up towards our first game back against Millwall on the 3rd.
“It’s nice to get the little break because it has been a pretty hectic start back into life in the Championship.
“It was good to spend some time with the family. I think all of the lads enjoyed the small break where we could switch off for a week but now it’s back to down to business where we can crack on and focus on the next game coming up in a couple of weeks.
“Reassess and try and kick on for the second half of the season.”
Part of the Black Cats week in Dubai will see the first-team compete in a friendly against Al-Shibab whilst injured members of the squad will step up their recovery.
However, the next seven days will be play a fundamental role in the development between the players and the coaching staff in the eyes of the captain.
Evans explained; “It will be massive. The manager has come in through the season so he hasn’t really had a pre-season where he can try different things in training.
“This week, he is really looking forward to it with all the coaching staff to try and implement his way of playing more within the squad. We’re all looking forward to what the week holds.”