Sunderland are looking to use their warm weather training camp in Dubai to get some vital 'bonding' sessions in the first-team squad. The Black Cats headed out to to the Gulf state on Sunday night for a week of training in the warmer climate.
The Wearsiders are without a Championship fixture until Saturday, December 3, when they take on Millwall at the Stadium of Light. And with the World Cup now under way, the club have taken the chance to get some training under their belt in Middle East.
Sunderland will spent a week in Dubai, and take on local side Al-Shabab at the Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence in a friendly game in a bid to maintain fitness levels ahead of the restart.
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However, with the break coming midway through the season, head coach Tony Mowbray says it's more about team bonding and bringing the squad closer together ahead of the second part of the campaign.
“For me, it’s about the bonding and the ability to be together," Mowbray said. "To have breakfast, lunch, training and on an evening watch the World Cup matches together. There will be a benefit.
“Ally that to some pretty key footballers coming back to fitness, I would hope on the back of that we can reboot our season and win football matches on a regular basis.”
The Black Cats went into the break on the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Birmingham City, They face Millwall in a rearranged game on December 3 before scheduled fixtures resume on December 12 when they host West Brom, followed by a trip to Hull City on December 17.
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