Alex Neil insists there are still places up for grabs in his opening day line-up, as Sunderland prepare for their final pre-season outing at Hartlepool tomorrow. The Black Cats round off their pre-season preparations at Victoria Park, as they gear up for next Sunday's Championship kick-off against Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
Neil named a strong side for yesterday's friendly defeat at Accrington Stanley, and many of the players who began at the Crown Ground are likely to start against Coventry. But Neil says there is still time for players to make their mark and force their way into his plans ahead of the opening weekend.
"I think there's always places up for grabs," he said. "When you go into any game, you pick a team to win that game and you hope everyone performs well but if people show they are not performing or they look like they are not mentally in a good space, it comes into question whether or not they are going to start the next game.
