Sunderland announce initial pre-season plans including training camp in Austria

Sunderland won't be playing any friendly games in Austria though, with Allardyce instead focusing on building the players fitness ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.

The first team squad are due back at the Academy of Light from their summer break at the beginning of July with the players heading to Austria between July 7 and 16.

The training camp will be closed, fans have been told.

Sunderland will then return to the North East ahead of two domestic friendly games against Hartlepool United and Rotherham United.

The first of the games will see the Black Cats make the short journey to face Pools at Victoria Park, (7.30pm kick-off) on Wednesday, July 20.

They will then travel to South Yorkshire, where they will take on Rotherham United at the New York Stadium, on Saturday 23 July (3pm kick-off).

Ticket information for both games will be confirmed in due course.

Officials have also confirmed Sunderland will also play a number of games in Europe in late July/early August, the details of which will be confirmed soon.

The 2016-17 Premier League fixture schedule will be announced on Wednesday, June 15.