Sunderland AFC opened their pre-season campaign with a commanding 5-1 victory over York City. Manager Régis Le Bris gave 23 players minutes in the fixture, rotating his entire team at half-time as part of a planned approach to building fitness without overloading his squad.
Enzo Le Fée scored twice, with further goals from Chris Rigg, Timur Tutierov and Tom Proctor securing the emphatic win.
Priorities for the season ahead
Le Bris highlighted the need to strengthen the squad with "three or four core players" while managing the demands of competing in both the Premier League and cup competitions.
The Black Cats face a demanding schedule next week with a 12-day tour of the United States, where they will play Liverpool, Leeds United and Wrexham. Le Bris noted that players who featured in the World Cup will require careful management, with only short periods on the pitch initially.
Le Bris expressed hope that the full squad will be available when Sunderland face Lens and Rennes later in pre-season.