Costel Pantilimon, Jordi Gomez to miss Sunderland's pre-season opener

Sunderland duo Costel Pantilimon and Jordi Gomez will play no part in tonight's pre-season friendly against Darlington due to injuries.

Goalkeeper Pantilimon suffered a knee problem during the Black Cats' goalless draw with Arsenal in May, while Gomez has been struggling after fracturing his kneecap in training two months ago.

"Gomez is going the right way, but he's not working with us," The Shields Gazette quotes head coach Dick Advocaat as saying. "He's still working separately with the physio.

"Pantilimon is doing that too, but he's going the right way. He can't play games at the moment, but he's training separately with the goalkeeping coach."

The Black Cats' opening game of the Premier League season is away against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on August 8.