Adam Bale believes Sunderland under-18s are ready for the challenges that lie ahead this season.
Elliott Dickman's side recorded a resounding 4-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at the weekend which saw Lee Connelly score a hat-trick and Jack Diamond net a neat chip.
That concluded the under-18s' pre-season schedule and now all eyes are firmly fixed on their U18 Premier League curtain-raiser at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 13 August.
Speaking to safc.com youth team skipper Bale revealed the new-faces have settled well and anticipation levels are rising nicely.
"The result is a positive way to end pre-season," he smiled.
"It's a good way to start the new season, it's a good building block, it was good to get the four goals and it's always nice to get a clean sheet.
"There's positives all round and that's great for us to take into our first league game of the season at Wolves.
"Everyone has settled in well, we've got to know the new lads and everyone knows how each other is," he continued.
"We have come together as a good unit and hopefully we can have a good season now.
"We're all eager to get back out there because we have had a good pre-season and now it's important to focus on our first game at Wolves and go from there."