Simon Grayson has been impressed with the early signs of pre-season ahead of Sunderland’s first test tonight.
- Match preview: Bury v Sunderland.
- Follow the action live on our matchday centre.
- Josh Maja relishing pre-season challenges.
The newly appointed boss will take charge of his first game against Bury at Gigg Lane this evening, kick-off 7.30pm, as the Black Cats look to raise the antes.
Yesterday saw the Lads return from an intense five-day training camp in Austria, which included three fitness-fueled sessions a day with a mixture of cycling, ball work and of course, running on the agenda.
Sunderland’s return to Britain now sees them enter the next phase of pre-season, with Bury providing the first hurdle before a six-day trip north of the border swiftly follows on Sunday.
And speaking to safc.com about the first week of pre-season, Grayson hailed the desire of his players to roll their sleeves up and get on with the task in hand.
“It is all about progressing and moving forward both on the pitch and off the pitch but what we have done so far I am pleased with,” he smiled.
“(Austria was) a very good trip and the players have enjoyed it.
“There is no easy way of doing pre-season. You have got to get a mixture of football as well as the fitness work.
“We have been out on the bikes every morning to get them going – whether it is a physical test or more of a loosener to get ready for the rest of the sessions.
“All round it has been very good and overall, I am really pleased with the facilities, the people have look after us ever so well and hopefully we are going to benefit from it.
“It is never easy doing pre-season but there is no easy way round it,” he continued.
“You have got to work hard because it gives you a burst for the rest of the season. I think the first 10 days of pre-season are always the toughest.
“Once you get into the games the players can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel but everything we have asked them to do they have accepted it and got on with it.
“They have given it their maximum, so overall very pleased with them.”
