Sunderland manager, Sam Allardyce has returned from the side's Austrian pre-season camp to head the club's transfer proceedings.
Getting on with the job
The Black Cats are currently hard at work on the continent ahead of the new season, but Allardyce took the opportunity of a day off from training to return to the North East.
Allardyce's return will only further fuel rumours that he is one of favourites to take the vacant England job, with reports suggesting he is to be interviewed for the job.
However it seems Allardyce is sticking with the job at hand, returning to country to help with the Black Cats breakthrough in the transfer market.
Allardyce has already shown his frustration at the club's failings so far, with the collapse of a deal for Davide Santon last week.
He told safc.com: "I have to admit myself that my patience is wearing thin." But he added, "We have to keep trying to bring in those three or four players as quickly as possible."
Challenging for the top spot
Pre-season has allowed a number of young players to mix with the senior players, with a number of them making the trip to Austria.
Tommy, Ethan and Josh Robson, Lynden Gooch, Josh Maja, Rees Greenwood, Tom Beadling, George Honeyman and Max Stryjek all made the trip, and Allardyce believes they can be challenging for first-team involvement.
Allardyce said: “We’ve got a lot of young players with us" and is "hoping they’re going to flourish under the microscope of being with the first-team squad and play a part this season."
Sunderland AFC will take on Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on Wednesday July 20 with kick-off at 7:30pm BST.