Sunderland will discover their first opponents of the Championship campaign on Wednesday morning, with the second-tier fixture list set to be released at 9am.
With Régis Le Bris finally appointed as the club’s new head coach over the weekend, attentions can finally turn towards the new season. With the players set to report back for pre-season testing and training later this month, we’ve taken a look at the strongest squad available to Le Bris on the opening day as things stand, and look ahead to how that could change over the pre-season period. Though Le Bris played with a back three last season at FC Lorient, we’ve stuck to the 4-2-3-1 formation that Sunderland usually operate in and recruit to....
![Alese's successful return from injury at the end of last season was a major boost for Sunderland, with the left back position being a key issue for much of the campaign due to injuries. The Black Cats' hope is that Dennis Cirkin can have a good pre-season and battle it out with Alese for a place in the team, while both being available would allow Le Bris to seamlessly switch to a back three when required.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNiZjM0YjAwLTY4MjAtNGQ2Yy1iZmIwLTZlNzFhNmYyNWEzMzo5ZTY5ODg2Zi01Yjc3LTRiOWEtOGE3NS05NGU2Nzk0NTBmN2E=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. SUB: Aji Alese
Alese's successful return from injury at the end of last season was a major boost for Sunderland, with the left back position being a key issue for much of the campaign due to injuries. The Black Cats' hope is that Dennis Cirkin can have a good pre-season and battle it out with Alese for a place in the team, while both being available would allow Le Bris to seamlessly switch to a back three when required.Photo: Frank Reid
![Had an up-and-down campaign last time out but easy to forget that it was his first full season of senior football. A hugely talented player who was attracting top-tier bids last summer. Will be a regular under Le Bris but the question is whether Sunderland need to find a better balance in midfield by adding a more experienced and defensively-minded player to the mix following Corry Evans' departure.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk5N2ZkNDg3LTNkYTEtNGJjYS05MzkyLTYyYTdhYzc0ZGJmNjo1ZGZmNjZmNi03N2E1LTQ3MzgtODM0NC1kZjVmODM1YmY0YjE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. CM - PIERRE EKWAH
Had an up-and-down campaign last time out but easy to forget that it was his first full season of senior football. A hugely talented player who was attracting top-tier bids last summer. Will be a regular under Le Bris but the question is whether Sunderland need to find a better balance in midfield by adding a more experienced and defensively-minded player to the mix following Corry Evans' departure. | Frank Reid Photo: Frank Reid
![There is some uncertainty over Neil's future as things stand, with the midfielder having rejected an initial offer to extend his current deal. With two years left there is no pressure for Sunderland to sell, but it'll be up to the club and Le Bris to convince them they are Premier League bound in the long run. Neil is one of the most coveted players in the squad and there'll be significant offers if they can't do that. Like Ekwah, many are hoping that the addition of another central midfielder could free him up to impact the game more near the opposition box. Suffered a nasty injury towards the end of last season but the hope was always that he'd be back for the start of the campaign.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/16/12/50/GettyImages-2062956281+%281%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. CM - DAN NEIL
There is some uncertainty over Neil's future as things stand, with the midfielder having rejected an initial offer to extend his current deal. With two years left there is no pressure for Sunderland to sell, but it'll be up to the club and Le Bris to convince them they are Premier League bound in the long run. Neil is one of the most coveted players in the squad and there'll be significant offers if they can't do that. Like Ekwah, many are hoping that the addition of another central midfielder could free him up to impact the game more near the opposition box. Suffered a nasty injury towards the end of last season but the hope was always that he'd be back for the start of the campaign. | Getty ImagesPhoto: Getty Images
![It's a big pre-season for Roberts, who has been a brilliant player for Sunderland but whose form undoubtedly dipped after returning from injury in the second half of the last campaign. He seems almost certain to get the chance to reclaim his place on the right wing and especially with the transfer uncertainty on the other flank - they need him to deliver.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc4ODU0MTgxLTc3NmYtNDM1YS04Mzg3LTljYThkMTc3NjYzNTpiMzQ4NzE1Yi00ODJmLTQyM2UtOTQzZC01MTI0OGI1MDQ2YmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. RW - PATRICK ROBERTS
It's a big pre-season for Roberts, who has been a brilliant player for Sunderland but whose form undoubtedly dipped after returning from injury in the second half of the last campaign. He seems almost certain to get the chance to reclaim his place on the right wing and especially with the transfer uncertainty on the other flank - they need him to deliver. Photo: Frank Reid