Sunderland’s road to the new season begins here!

Here we go!

Yes, it’s the familiar double-header against local opposition. We’ll doubtless repeat last year’s effort of splitting the squad and sending half of them to Gateshead and the other half to South Shields this coming Saturday. Still, for Régis Le Bris and Sunderland, the starting gun is about to be fired on our preparations for the 2024/2025 season.

With the Frenchman having charmed his way through his first press conference in extremely measured fashion last week, his first official game in charge of the Lads will be in South Tyneside against the Mariners. Although it’ll be difficult to draw firm conclusions from the first run-out of the summer, you get a sense that the Frenchman will be delighted to get the ball rolling after the intrigue of recent weeks.

As a fan, it was hard not to be impressed with the way in which Le Bris conducted himself in front of the media.

There was no self-promotion, no lapsing into the third person, and no grandiose promises; instead, just a calm exchange during which he spoke of the importance of the connection between the fans and the team — something that was most definitely fractured last season and needs to be repaired.

For the players, all of whom will doubtless be eager to make a positive impression on their new boss as well as getting back to the day job after the turbulent ending to last season, Le Bris’ arrival at Sunderland throws up plenty of interesting questions; specifically, who he’ll identify as being key components of what’ll doubtless be a new-look side, and the style of play we’ll aim to deploy under his stewardship.

It’s important to caveat this by highlighting that the squad is in need of surgery; not a total overhaul, but an injection of power, experience, physicality, and most importantly, goals, if Le Bris is to have any hope of succeeding at the Stadium of Light.

With just over a month until the big kick-off against Cardiff City, at least five players (among them a genuine game-breaking central defensive midfielder) with Championship experience need to be signed on. The forward line needs to be overhauled, with Hemir and Eliezer Mayenda loaned out, some strikers with solid Championship records signed, and Nazariy Rusyn’s role within the squad more clearly defined.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

However, this isn’t to say that Le Bris will be working with a completely duff hand in the meantime.

They might need a shot of confidence, but there’s plenty of talent and game-changing ability among the players he currently has. If Patrick Roberts, to whom Le Bris was introduced during a recent video posted on social media, can recapture something close to his peak form, we’re very much in business.

Roberts endured a frustrating campaign last time out, but if Le Bris can harness his talent to a similar degree as Tony Mowbray, assists and goals should hopefully follow.

In addition to Roberts, there are plenty of other players who have lots to prove but also plenty to gain under Le Bris, among them Timothée Pembélé, who could benefit enormously if a tactical switch is on the cards, with his performance as a marauding wing back against Leeds United giving plenty of cause for optimism.

The games against Shields and Gateshead won’t be anywhere near conclusive, and the trip to Spain and the accompanying games ought to provide a more reliable barometer of how we’re developing as a squad. But it’ll be great to see the Lads back in action and donning their new Hummel threads for the first time.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Fitness and experimentation will doubtless be the order of the day during the coming week. For those players who may be on the fringes and with loan moves possibly on the cards, it’s vital that they acquit themselves as effectively as our go-to first team lads.

England’s nervy and memorable ride through the European Championships in Germany has provided everyone with a football fix in recent weeks, but the return of Sunderland to action always gets the juices flowing once again.

There’s a lot of work to do for us to be fully ready for the curtain-raiser against Cardiff in early August. But the countdown is ramping up, and there’ll be plenty to talk about as things swing into action once again.

After a summer break that’s been interesting to say the least, we’ll soon have plenty of meaningful stuff to discuss, and hopefully the Lads will get off to a winning start this weekend.