German Tour Is Perfect

Steve Bruce is a big fan of making sure the pre season plans all go accordingly and he could not be happier with the progress being made so far.

Although Sunderland lost their last game 3-1, he is more bothered about the team getting to know one another and improving fitness in each game.

Bruce told the Echo: "There were offers to fly to here, there and everywhere.

"But to be fair to the people who employ me, they said to me 'do what you want`.

"It couldn`t be any better - everything about Germany is always top-class so it`s been a good trip.

"It`s not as hot as Portugal, but certainly the games have been tougher.

"That was the one area I looked at and thought 'they`re tough for two weeks in`.

"But we got a good workout against Hannover and today`s game (against Borussia Monchengladbach) is difficult as well against another big club.

"It`s all about the preparation and I`m delighted with how it`s gone.

"It`s been excellent in terms of the heat and the training facilities.

"It`s vitally important the preparation for the new season is right and I`m a bit of a stickler for that."


Sunderland face Borussia Monchengladbach today at 2:30pm.


The important thing for Steve Bruce was also making sure long term injuries that seen Cattermole, Turner, Richardson and Bramble miss last season have also had a good pre season.

Bruce added: 'The big thing for me was to get Cattermole, Richardson, Turner and Bramble through pre-season after being out for four or five months," said Bruce.

"We needed to get them added to the squad again.

"They all came back early and up to now, they all look very fit.

"All the players trained in a 35-minute game yesterday morning and they`re bright and bubbly.

"We`ve got a couple of niggles, but we`re on par hopefully to hit the ground running, which we need to do."

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