Sunderland will kick off their pre-season on Saturday when they take on Gateshead in the second game of a double-header.
The Black Cats will face the National League side in a 5pm kickoff just hours after they go up against sixth-tier South Shields.
Match preview
Gateshead experienced joy and disappointment in an eventful 2023-24 campaign, which saw them collect 75 points from 46 matches to claim the final playoff position.
However, Rob Elliot's side were left heartbroken after the EFL banned them from competing in the playoffs due to the local council's failure to secure a 10-year lease on their International Stadium.
After being denied the chance to challenge for promotion, Gateshead channelled that disappointment as motivation for May's FA Trophy final against Solihull Moors.
The Heed played out a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes of gripping action, before they held their nerve to prevail in the subsequent penalty shootout to clinch the FA Trophy for the first time in their history.
Two months on from that success, Gateshead are set to take on Championship side Sunderland in their second friendly of pre-season after kicking off their preparations for the new campaign with a dominant 7-1 win over Hebburn Town.
Sunderland are hoping that the new campaign offers more stability than their tumultuous 2023-24 season, which saw Mike Dodds assume interim charge on a couple of occasions following the dismissals of Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale.
The Black Cats will head into their third consecutive Championship campaign under new management following the appointment of Regis Le Bris on a three-year deal.
Le Bris spent two seasons in charge of French side Lorient, leading them to a respectable 10th-placed finish in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season, but he could not stop them from being relegated last term.
The Frenchman will be charged with lifting a club that finished in 16th position last season, and he will hope to replicate Sunderland's success from the 2022-23 campaign when they managed to secure a top-six finish.
Sunderland will face South Shields and Gateshead in a double-header for the second year in a row, before they turn their focus to friendlies against Premier League Nottingham Forest, Spanish side Eldense, League One Blackpool and fourth-tier Bradford City.
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Team News
Gateshead have made a number of additions to Elliot's side, having recruited goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks, defender Jamie Bramwell, forward Owen Oseni and the midfield duo of Will McGowan and Fenton John.
While there have been incomings, the Heed have also seen several players leave the club, including Ed Francis, Jordan Hunter, Connor McBride and Marcus Dinanga.
Elliot named two separate lineups for the two halves against Hebburn Town, and he could be tempted to do something similar for Saturday's friendly.
As for Sunderland, there is a degree of uncertainty surrounding their lineup, with Le Bris set to split his squad for the two games against South Shields and Gateshead.
However, defender Jenson Seelt and forward Nazariy Rusyn will not be present for either of the two fixtures as the pair continue to recover from their respective injury issues.
Sunderland have recruited goalkeeper Simon Moore and midfielder Alan Browne on free transfers this summer, and the pair are likely to be involved in one of Saturday's two matches.
Gateshead possible starting lineup:
Brooks; Richardson, Grayson, Storey; Adom, Booty, Worman, Hannant; Allan, Olley; Rutledge
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Moore; Pembele, Alese, Triantis, Cirkin; Neil, Mateta; Roberts, Browne, Ba; Aouchiche
We say: Gateshead 1-3 Sunderland
There may be some uncertainty surrounding who Sunderland will field for Saturday's evening kickoff, but whatever lineup they choose, we believe that they will have the extra quality required to see off their fifth-tier opponents.
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