Sunderland’s 2026/27 pre-season gets under way on Saturday as the Black Cats travel to the LNER Community Stadium to face York City in their first friendly of the summer. With no senior competitive fixtures yet on the horizon, the match offers Régis Le Bris an early opportunity to assess a squad still depleted by international call-ups.
Who’s available and who’s missing
Several players remain away on World Cup duty, leaving space for academy graduates and recently integrated squad members to press their claims. The matchday group is expected to include those who have impressed in training over the last fortnight, with Sunderland Echo reporting that an academy XI will also play South Shields earlier in the day.
Notable squad developments include:
- Melker Ellborg is likely to start in goal, a chance to build on his earlier promise when Robin Roefs was briefly sidelined.
- Robin Roefs remains absent while on World Cup duty, with a return to the squad anticipated later this month.
- Trai Hume — who finished last season deployed on the right — could appear again out wide or be switched back to his more natural defensive role as the team works on depth.
- Dan Ballard has trained with the group after ankle surgery and may be handed minutes; his availability represents a timely boost given the defensive questions facing the squad.
- Nordi Mukiele has spent the past fortnight back on Wearside and is expected to be ready to feature, with the manager preferring him at right back.
- Omar Alderete remains absent, a factor that could see Mukiele used centrally at the start.
- Thomas Meunier, a new signing, will not make his debut after arriving this week; he is on a post-World Cup break.
What the friendly will tell us
The game at York is as much about match sharpness as it is about selection. For younger squad members, it will be an audition: minutes in competitive conditions are a key stage in their development and could influence Le Bris’s options ahead of a US training camp and the rest of pre-season.
| Player | Status for York friendly |
|---|---|
| Melker Ellborg | Likely start |
| Robin Roefs | On World Cup duty (return later this month) |
| Thomas Meunier | Not available (post-World Cup break) |
| Nordi Mukiele | Available; back in training |
| Omar Alderete | Absent |
| Dan Ballard | Training after surgery; may play |
The fixture should also provide clarity on tactical flexibility. Trai Hume’s use on the wing versus at full back will indicate whether Le Bris intends to keep him as a utility option or return him to a defensive berth. Meanwhile, the defensive mix in front of the goalkeeper — shaped by absences and recent recoveries — will be closely observed by supporters and coaching staff alike.
For Sunderland fans, Saturday offers an early chance to see the squad in action and to judge how Le Bris plans to bridge the gap left by international call-ups. The next fortnight of pre-season will be important for settling partnerships, building fitness and integrating new arrivals ahead of the more demanding fixtures that follow.
Coverage of the match and subsequent pre-season developments will be followed closely across local media as the club prepares for the coming campaign.
