Premier League side Sunderland will look to continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the new season when they travel to face League One side Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday.
Mixed bag for the Black Cats so far this summer
Sunderland started their pre-season in style with a 4-2 victory over non-league side Darlington 1883 before they travelled to America for their pre-season tour of the country. However, they tasted defeat in the first two games of the tour, losing 1-0 to Sacramento Republic and 3-1 to C.F. Pachuca.
Still, they ended the tour across the pond on a high with an impressive 2-1 victory over MLS side Toronto FC before travelling back to the North-east.
This match tomorrow against Paul Dickov’s side will be the Black Cats' penultimate warm-up game before the big kick-off against Leicester City on August 8, with Dick Advocaat’s squad still to play Bundesliga side Hannover 96 on Saturday.
New Sunderland signings to be in action
Black Cat fans who will be making the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium will have the opportunity to see some of their team's new signings first-hand, with defender Younes Kaboul and winger Jeremain Lens likely to participate in the encounter.
The two players were brought in by Advocaat from Tottenham Hotspur and Dynamo Kiev respectively and, after their victory over Toronto, the manager confirmed that Lens will “definitely play against Doncaster” and said he is “further along” than his other Sunderland teammates.
However, Sebastian Coates, who made his move to Wearside permanent this summer after spending last season on from Liverpool, is unlikely for a start after only joining up with the squad for pre-season training last week after starring in the Copa America for Uruguay.
Despite already bringing in four players to the North-east, Advocaat is still looking to bring in more recruits too before his side's pre-season campaign is over. The Dutchman has said that he is hopeful of signing “one or two” more players, and he believes doing so would make “everything a little bit easier.”
Doncaster hoping to continue unbeaten pre-season campaign
Doncaster have had strong pre-season and remain undefeated throughout their three games that they have played so far.
Dickov’s squad started off with a 2-0 victory over seventh tier side Frickley Athletic FC, and that win was followed up with 1-1 and 0-0 draws with Championship clubs Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough, respectively.
Rovers will be hopeful of a good result against Advocaat’s men before their final friendly against another Championship side in Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 1 - a week before they kick off their League One campaign at home to Bury.
Doncaster Rovers will host Sunderland at the Keepmoat Stadium on Wednesday 29 July with kick-off at 7:45 pm.