The Black Cats boss hits out against a preseason schedule that has seven of his players called up to international duty, with some players away just days before the new season
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has branded the scheduling of this week's international friendlies as meaningless and ridiculous.Several Premier League players have been called up just days before the season kicks off, while the England friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday has seen several players back out with niggling injuries.
"We've got seven away in meaningless friendlies, it's a bit ridiculous," the manager of the Wearside team told BBC Newcastle. "I can't understand friendly internationals days before the start. Knowing our luck in games over the last year, plans may be laid to rest. I've never been a fan [of preseason], I always despised it as a player."
So far, the Black Cats have escaped any major pre-season injury setbacks and will be hopeful they can improve on their tenth place finish last year as they start their campaign against Liverpool on Saturday.
"Apart from John O'Shea, who is touch and go for next week, everyone's come through it," Bruce confirmed. "We had some big players needing a preseason, [Michael] Turner, [Titus] Bramble, [Kieran] Richardson and [Lee] Cattermole who all came through it, and David Meyler joined in as well the last week which is excellent after all the problems we had last year."
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