SUNDERLAND’S first-team squad have arrived in Nashville at the start of a US tour that will see them play matches against Liverpool, Leeds United and Wrexham over the course of the next week-and-a-half.
What are the key talking points ahead of the three-game tour – and what should we be looking out for as the Black Cats travel around the States?
RETURNING WORLD CUP STARS
Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey in action for Netherlands at the World Cup (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
The Sunderland side that lines up against Liverpool in Nashville on Saturday will look nothing like the team that will kick off the Premier League season at Ipswich Town next month.
Why? Because it will be completely devoid of the Sunderland players that were involved at the World Cup finals this summer. By the time the Black Cats play the final game of their tour against Wrexham a week on Sunday, however, that should have changed.
Brian Brobbey, Nilson Angulo, Habib Diarra, Robin Roefs, Simon Adingra, Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki are due to link up with the squad this Sunday, in the immediate aftermath of the Liverpool game.
They will join in training at the start of next week, and it will be interesting to see whether they feature in the game with Leeds in New Jersey next Thursday. While Regis Le Bris will be keen to not to push too hard too early, they should certainly be involved in some capacity against Wrexham.
Having progressed into the latter stages of the World Cup, Granit Xhaka, Chemsdine Talbi, Omar Alderete and Thomas Meunier have been given an extended break and will not be travelling to the US. That means their only pre-season involvement will come in the final two friendly games against Lens and Rennes.
YOUNGSTERS GET A CHANCE
Tom Proctor celebrates after scoring for Sunderland against York City (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Wire)
With Sunderland’s World Cup contingent missing the first game of the tour, and potentially being eased back in thereafter, a number of youngsters have been given the opportunity to travel with the first team. It will be fascinating to see whether any stand out in the Black Cats’ three matches in the US.
Timur Tutierov caught the eye in last weekend’s win at York City, and having signed a new contract earlier this week, this could be a big few days for the Ukrainian winger, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Exeter City.
With Eliezer Mayenda having left to join Rennes, Sunderland are short of numbers in attack, so Finn Geragusian and Trey Ogunsuyi could get some game time in the US. Felix Scott is beyond that duo in terms of his development to this point, but the 18-year-old has also travelled across the Atlantic.
Jaydon Jones and Jenson Jones have been in and around the first-team group for a while now, and will hope to catch Le Bris’ eye, while Ben Kindon, Archie Lightfoot, Jack Whittaker, Charlie Dinsdale and Tom Proctor, who scored in the second half at York, will hope to seize their first real chance in the senior environment.
GROWING THE BRAND
Sunderland CEO Tom Burwell (Image: SAFC)
What Sunderland’s players do on the pitch in the next week or so is only a small part of what the club are hoping to achieve in the US. With Liverpool, Leeds and Wrexham also in the States, this is the Black Cats’ showpiece event of the summer, and with ‘soccer’ currently at the top of the American sports agenda thanks to the World Cup, there are huge commercial and marketing opportunities.
On their first full day in the US, Sunderland have organised a VIP experience for supporters at Elvis Presley’s Graceland home featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes access, special exhibits and a Southern-style dining experience with fellow fans and club ambassadors Kevin Ball and Kevin Phillips.
Sunderland’s CEO, Tom Burwell, CCO, Scott McCubbin, and head of first team performance and medical, Jamie Harley, are also due to guest panellists at a business breakfast at the Greater Nashville Technology Council.
Further events are planned for the New Jersey and Philadelphia legs of the trip, aimed at growing brand awareness and positioning Sunderland as a club worth following from the United States.
PATTERSON PRESENT
Anthony Patterson is part of the Sunderland squad in the United States (Image: Ian Horrocks)
Perhaps the most surprising name on the squad list that was announced earlier this week was that of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
With Rangers, Millwall and Wrexham all having held discussions over Patterson’s availability this summer, it had been anticipated that the shot-stopper would remain on English soil with a view to sealing a move away from Wearside.
Instead, he is one of three goalkeepers that have travelled to the US alongside Melker Ellborg and Simon Moore, who played a half each against York.
With Roefs joining up after the Liverpool game, the expectation is still that Patterson will be moving on this summer. Nevertheless, his presence in the US is interesting, and if he was to be involved in any of the forthcoming games, perhaps his departure wouldn’t be as inevitable as it had previously appeared.
MUNDLE/TA BI COMPETITION
Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle will be looking to impress in the United States (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Sunderland’s wide-attacking positions are in a state of flux ahead of the start of the new season. The strong expectation is that the club will be signing at least one new winger this summer, with the position regarded as a key priority.
Until that happens, though, the wide players currently on the Black Cats’ books will get a chance to stake a claim for a prominent role next season.
Romaine Mundle has been plagued by injury issues throughout his Sunderland career and suffered two serious hamstring problems that restricted him to just two Premier League starts in the whole of last season. Le Bris didn’t want to risk him against York last weekend, but he has travelled to the US and will be desperate to try to get back into the rhythm of playing games ahead of the start of the new campaign.
Jocelin Ta Bi also suffered from injury issues after joining Sunderland in January and, like Mundle, would have been hoping to use the US trip to get some much-needed game time under his belt. Instead, he was unable to travel to Nashville this week after his visa application was rejected. Sunderland officials are trying to resolve the situation, but if Ta Bi is unable to make it into America, it will be a big personal blow for the winger.