Luke O'Nien says the intensity of Sunderland's pre-season work will increase on a daily basis now the players have regrouped at the Academy of Light. The squad reported back for training on Wednesday for the first time since the Black Cats' League One play-off final win against Wycombe at Wembley in May.
They are preparing for life back in the Championship, and Alex Neil's men are currently undergoing the usual round of fitness work before their first pre-season games a week tomorrow, which will see them take on Gateshead and Blyth Spartans in behind-closed-doors friendlies. "Pre-season has come around very quickly – it only feels like yesterday that we were lifting that trophy [at Wembley]," said midfielder O'Nien.
"I've probably watched the goals at least 100 times, and have been lying in bed looking through the photos. But now that's in the past.
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"We have things we need to go out and achieve – everyone came in early [on Wednesday] to catch up and we had a few tests. I think the volume will get cranked up day by day now – it's nice to see the boys again, and we all know what's in front of us."
The rapid turnaround of just four-and-a-half weeks between the play-off final and the start of pre-season training has meant the players have had less time than usual to take a break, but O'Nien has had a busy summer. He said: "The past few weeks have been magic.
"I've got married to my best mate [partner, and now wife, Georgia], with my little girl there as well, and to have our families come from far and wide was so special. I'm a very lucky guy, and now I'm looking forward to getting down to business in pre-season."
Sunderland head out to Portugal a week on Wednesday for a training camp, and where fans will be able to see them in action for the first time when they face Scottish giants Rangers in a friendly in the Algarve town of Albufeira on Saturday, July 9, with a second game against yet-to-be-confirmed opposition also scheduled during their stay. O'Nien said: "We're excited for Portugal – it'll be nice to go away and train with the boys, grow closer to one another and we're going out there for the job of getting fitter.
"Last time we went out there [in 2019], we came back in good shape, played some good teams and this is going to be no different. We have the focus of coming back a better team."
When Sunderland return from Portugal, they have domestic friendlies lined up against Jack Ross' Dundee United, Bradford City, Accrington Stanley, and Hartlepool United, all of which are away from home. And with the fixtures released yesterday, they now know they will start their Championship campaign at home to Coventry City in front of the TV cameras on Sunday, July 31.
O'Nien said: "We've all looked forward to seeing the fixtures, and all eyes will be on that first Championship game of the season."
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