Not long now until we host Boro, hoping to avenge our poor display from last season but before that here are some stories you might have missed regarding Sunderland in the past few days.
WATSON TRAINING WITH SENIORS AHEAD OF BORO
Tommy Watson was confirmed to be training with the senior squad ahead of our match against Boro this weekend. On Wednesday night the U21's hosted Borussia Monchengladbach U21's in the PL International Cup and usually Watson would be the first name on the team sheet, so when his name wasn't there questions were raised and U21's boss, Graeme Murty, has confirmed that there is no injury worry or anything like that, Tommy is just with he seniors.
U21'S DEFEATED IN INTERNATIONAL CUP
As mentioned above, the U21's played German side Borussia Monchengladbach at Eppleton on Wednesday, having already played one game in the competition last week earning a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao, the young lads were looking to carry on getting points on the board. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case as we lost 3-0 on the night to the better side. There is still a chance of progressing in the Cup as long as we don't drop many more points but the main thing is that this should give our young players some good experience for the future.
FORMER SUNDERLAND PLAYER JOINS STOKE STAFF
Former Sunderland player, Dean Whitehead, has joined Stoke City following their recent backroom overhaul following the sacking of Steven Schumacher. Stoke appointed Norwich City coach Narcís Pèlach as their new head coach whilst also bringing in Whitehead as a first team coach. Whitehead joined Stoke from Barnsley, with another former Sunderland academy player, Conor Hourihane, taking on more coaching responsibilities whilst also still remaining available for selection as a player.
FOOTBRIDGE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING COMPLETE
The Sunderland footbridge is now one step closer to being complete for next year, as the final steel section was put in place on Monday. Now that the foundations are set work can take place to actually complete the bridge and from an aesthetic point of view it already looks better, with there not being a massive gap in the middle. The bridge will connect the former Vaux Brewery site to the newly refurbed Sheepfolds, with an aim to have the bridge ready by next Summer.
