And coach Adam Sadler says he is not too concerned about the limited number of pre-season fixtures his second string played.

They had just three friendlies, against Newcastle Benfield, Gateshead and Blue Star, but Sadler organised a number of practice games to get his young team in shape for the new season.

He said: "The amount of friendlies has been governed by the size of our first-team squad.

"In a lot of the first-team games, the bench has been pretty much made up of the reserve team group.

"We've organised a couple of behind-closed-doors games to try and get us a little bit more match-fit for Sunderland."

Sadler is hopeful a number of league games will be staged at St James's Park this season, though through the winter, the reserves' new home will be the pitch at Blue Flame, adjacent to the club's Benton training complex.

He added: "The idea is, conditions permitting, is to play a number of games at St James's Park in the early part of the season, with a view to playing at Blue Flame during the winter, and coming back to St James's for the run in."

Sadler is without midfielder Kazenga Lua Lua, who suffered an ankle injury against Blue Star earlier this month. Kick-off at St James's Park tonight is 7pm.