The Sunderland squad were back in business at the weekend as they returned for pre-season testing.
Training officially begun again at the start of the week, with Regis Le Bris taking his first session since being appointed head coach last month.
Sunderland are set to kickstart their pre-season friendlies with their annual meetings against South Shields and Gateshead next weekend, with two separate teams likely to feature as both matches take place on the same day.
The Black Cats will then jet off to Costa Blanca for a week-long training camp, in which they will take on Nottingham Forest and Spanish second division side CD Eldense.
Sunderland will kick off their Championship campaign on 10th August, and will be hopeful that their preferred starting line-up are ready to go with a full pre-season under their belt.
It has already well-known that both Jenson Seelt and Niall Huggins will be out for most of the year, while Elliott Embleton has also spent the best part of 19 months on the sidelines.
Dan Neil was also a concern towards the end of the season, having missed the final three matches with an ankle injury.
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Dan Neil is ‘on track’ for pre-season friendlies
The ‘wonderful’ midfielder was expected to return during pre-season, while he has already been spotted in training.
Journalist Joe Ramage has now claimed that Neil looks ‘on track’ to return in time for their trip to Spain.
He wrote on X: “Good to see Dan Neil on the grass and running. A positive sign after his injury at the end of the season. Had been some slight concern as to whether he’d be ready for the start of pre-season but, along with Elliot Embleton and Jay Matete, he seems to be on track.”
The midfielder will be vital for Sunderland next season
Like last season, Neil is likely to be a vital player for Sunderland in the upcoming campaign.
The 22-year-old recently turned down a new contract on Wearside, but there is still a strong belief that he will stay at the club beyond the summer.
With Chris Rigg already putting pen to paper, fans will be hopeful that they can get a deal over the line with their academy graduate.
For now, his fitness is the club’s main priority and it will be vital to have him available for the pre-season schedule.
Embleton and Matete will also benefit from some minutes under their belt, with the pair unlikely to gain much game-time unless they can impress Le Bris over the next month.