Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is confident a tough pre-season programme will be the ideal preparation for the new Barclays Premier League campaign.
The 48-year-old will send his side out for the first time at Darlington on July 16 and then against Portuguese side Portimonense three days later.
But then the tests will increase in severity with matches against Benfica and Atletico Madrid at the Amsterdam Tournament before they face Celtic and Hearts either side of a trip to Peterborough.
"It's a challenging schedule, but we've got some mouth-watering games to look forward to," Bruce told the club's official website.
"It's a great honour to be involved in the famous Amsterdam Tournament and of course, games in Scotland are always tough.
"The games we have chosen are very competitive, but pre-season is all about the right preparation and these games will stand us in good stead for the start of the season and the challenges of the Premier League."




Comment 1 - 14 of 14
The Darlington friendlies are a goodwill gesture from the so called big NE teams to raise funds to help keep Darlo afloat!
FTM
P.S. newcastleian1 / cameron w for someone who gets upset with name calling, you two halves of the same person don't half like to dish it. Whatever! Sticks and stones and all that ... Pah!
As the sayings go, cameron w (post 11), ... whatever! Am I bovvered? Better a divvy than a Skunk after all! Anyway, I remember getting the divvy for my mother from the Co-op, them were the days, though we were poor. I think it was calculating the divvy that set me on the road to becoming a Chartered Accountant, thanks for reminding me of happy days.
safcalsftm....no your not a rascal,your a bit of a divvy who makes a comment then has to back track when you are proved wrong!!
Yes newcastleian1 / cameron w (you must be one and the same, you're indistinguishable), bit of a rascal, aren't I?
Cheers Bob R - its good to know there are still gentlemen left in football and both with North East clubs when their testimonials were played. Not that he'll ever get one, but I would imagine MO would keep all he money himself! Anyway the way football is these days testimonials are going to be a very distinct rarity in the future.
bob r....nice one mate safcalsftm gimp has just put his foot in it again,he should really think before talking rubbish, not very clever for a so called accountant!!
Shearer donated every penny to a total of 14 charities, the highest amount to NSPCC (over £400000). Quinn has my respect as he was amongst the first to donate his money to charity. Let's face it though neither bloke needed the money.
safcalsftm.....its a charitable gesture from niall quinn,yet with newcastle its beyond the joke!! no mr( i am never wrong) you are beyond the joke,and you just keep proving it time after time.
Cameron w, I have previously, suggesting it was another charitable gesture from Niall Quinn - you know the man, the one who gave the gate money from his testimonail to hosptal charities in Sunderland and Dublin. I wonder where Alan Shearer's testimonial monies went? Can you advise me?
Oh and before you start; i accessed this story on the Wigan Athletic pages!
How the mighty (in the minds of Mags, that is) have fallen! Having to arrange a friendly against a club that may not have enough players on its books to field a team. This really is beyond a joke. Come on Darlo.
From safcalsftm, on Wed 17 Jun 11:33PM
. . . . . . .
I see safc have arranged a game against this very same Darlington on July 16th.
Care to make comment Mr. safcalsftm?
Fine and can't wait for the new Premiership season to start, but also looking forward to 1st July so we can start to see movement on the transfer front.
Cn some one tell whoever writes this the BRUCEY is no longer at Wigan, THANKS.
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