Sunderland must use this season as a springboard and strengthen over the summer ready for another assault on the Championship, says Tony Mowbray. The Black Cats enjoyed a magnificent return to the second tier, finishing sixth in the table to qualify for the play-offs but fell short in the semi-final with a 3-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Luton Town.
Sunderland's season was dogged by a catalogue of injuries which left huge holes in their team, with the club playing for half the campaign with no centre-forward, and ending up with no fit centre-halves. If Sunderland are to build on their achievements this term they will need to not only hold on to their best players, but address their deficiencies during the transfer window and make sure they are better equipped next season.
"They've performed really well and I'm proud of them, proud of the fans, proud of the city and I think we should all recognise what this group of players have done," said Mowbray. "But the club has to build.
