Sunderland midfielder Duncan Watmore has spoken of the team's desire to get their pre-season schedule underway ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
The Black Cats have spent the last couple of weeks at a training camp in Austria, but returned to England recently and will take on Hartlepool United in their first pre-season match at Victoria Park on Wednesday.
Sunderland will then take on Rotherham United before a trip to France, and they finish their preparations against Borussia Dortmund.
"It's always nice to play games. You can do as much running as you want but match fitness is something completely different, but our sessions have been aimed at getting ready for that. By the end of pre-season we will be raring to go," Watmore told the club's official website.
"We're playing different teams in different countries and the final game against Dortmund will be a great test, but some of the lower league teams in England will also provide a test because they're always well prepared and well up for it.
"Every game is a fantastic opportunity for us because we're playing a different variety of teams and I think that's what you need. We will prepare right and we're looking forward to it."
Sunderland begin their Premier League campaign away to Manchester City in what will be Pep Guardiola's first competitive match in charge of the hosts.
Barney Corkhill
