MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 14:15:57| >> :120:9510:9510:

Jermain Defoe targets fast start for Sunderland

Jermain Defoe says that Sunderland need to work hard during pre-season in order to 'fly out of the blocks' in the Premier League.

Jermain Defoe has claimed that if Sunderland want to make a fast start this term, they need to put hard graft into their pre-season schedule.

The Black Cats narrowly escaped relegation from the Premier League last season after Sam Allardyce was brought in as Dick Advocaat's replacement in October.

In preparation for their opening league game of the season against Manchester City on August 13, Sunderland will play in friendlies against Hartlepool United and Rotherham United before travelling to France.

"We need to make sure we're flying out of the block because if you make sure you're fit the football and quality takes care of itself," Defoe told the club's official website. "The conditioning we're doing here with the sports science team is great because they know exactly what we need.

"Going away from ourselves, you look at Leicester and how they started against us on the opening day of last season – you just know they had a good pre-season in terms of conditioning – and it is one of the first things Sam [Allardyce] said to us when he came to the club."

There is some uncertainty over Allardyce's position at the Stadium of Light following the club's confirmation that he has held talks with the Football Association about becoming England manager.

ID:276840: cacheID:276840:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2353:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
'Big' Sam Allardyce basks in the Mackem glory of having led Sunderland to survival in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Everton, following in the footsteps of messrs Di Canio, Poyet and Advocaat
Read Next:
Sunderland 'prepared for Allardyce exit'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!