Elliott Dickman believes tonight’s friendly will provide a good benchmark to for the rest of Sunderland under-23s’ pre-season.
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The young Black Cats head to Meadow Park to take on Northern League side Sunderland RCA, kick-off 7pm, in what is the first of seven friendlies for them.
Dickman’s side returned from a five-day training camp in Austria on Thursday and have since turned their fitness-fuelled attentions to match prep for tonight’s friendly.
Speaking to safc.com, the under-23s boss revealed tonight’s match will provide a good indication to see how the first week of pre-season has gone.
“It is our first game so it will allow us the chance to get back into the swing of things,” he said.
“It gives the lads some more fitness in their legs and hopefully we can build on some of the things we have done in training.
“We want to continue to set the standards and make sure we continue the good work we have done so far.
“We are itching to get going and after tonight we will take stock and assess how we coped with it.
“Are we on the right track? Are we looking fit? And if we aren’t then we will have to up our work load a bit and improve.”
U23s pre-season schedule in full
Monday 10 July - Sunderland RCA v U23s – Meadow Park (KO 7pm)
Friday 14 July – Morpeth Town v U23s – Craik Park (KO 7pm)
Tuesday 18 July - Blyth Spartans - Croft Park (KO 7.30pm)
Friday 21 July – U23 v Barnsley – Academy of Light (KO 1pm)
Wednesday 26 July – U23 v Sheffield Wednesday – Academy of Light (KO 12.30pm)
Saturday 29 July – U23 v Huddersfield Town – Academy of Light (KO 12pm)
Wednesday 2 August – South Shields v U23s – Mariners Park (KO 7.30pm)
*Please note all of Sunderland under-23s’ friendlies at the Academy of Light are behind closed doors and will not be open to the public.