Luke O'Nien believes Sunderland will improve in the second half of the season as the Black Cats prepare to resume their Championship campaign following the World Cup break. Sunderland have made a broadly positive return to the second tier and went into the break, which came just short of the midpoint of the season, sitting in 15th place in the table despite having played one game fewer than most of their rivals and despite the fact that they have been hampered by injuries to key players.
Tony Mowbray's men spent last week in Dubai for a warm weather training camp, but resume training on Wearside this week as they prepare for Saturday's game against Millwall at the Stadium of Light. O'Nien says the trip has been a useful bonding session and the Black Cats will reap the benefits throughout the remainder of the campaign, while the return of players such as Aji Alese, Lynden Gooch, and Dennis Cirkin will also strengthen their hand.
"First and foremost, our whole concentration is on football," said O'Nien. "We had to come here and go back in a better condition than when we came.
