Roker Roundup: Possible Cattermole Sunderland testimonial against M’Vila & co last week in July?

Home friendly set to be announced

Sunderland are still finalising plans for pre-season - with Jack Ross returning to work at the Academy of Light yesterday - but it’s thought a home friendly against a club from the continent is being lined up.

The game is likely to be a testimonial for long-serving midfielder Lee Cattermole and will take place on the last Saturday in July, one week before the season begins.

There are a few names being mentioned, one of which could see the return of some former Sunderland team-mates of Cattermole’s with St Etienne, whilst the other name we’ve heard is Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. With nothing yet rubber-stamped it’s a case of wait and see, but with the date fast approaching some confirmation of our opponents is expected soon.

Oviedo ready to give everything

Bryan Oviedo is currently on international duty with Costa Rica as they compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a competition they have started well after they beat Nicaragua 4-0 in their opening game with the left-back scoring the opening goal.

Speaking after training yesterday, Oviedo explained how much it hurt to lose the League One play-off final against Charlton Athletic and says the squad will give everything to correct that next season:

Very difficult. It hurt a lot.

We were not given the promotion, but Sunderland and the fans understand that this does not end here and that we will go in with everything next season.

Costa Rica’s new manager Gustavo Matosas has implemented a new style of play and, although they have had an encouraging start under the new man, Oviedo understands that true progress will not happen overnight:

Actually I am very happy with the new style of play, we want to propose something different, I think we have the ability to do it, obviously it is not easy, we have only a few training sessions together and that is not easy either.

A process in a group does not come overnight and I think we’re on the right track but we still have a lot of work to do, we have several training sessions, several matches here in the Gold Cup.

Academy product to join Oxford United

Sunderland academy product Alejandro Gorrin looks set to play against the club next season with reports suggesting that he is set to join Oxford United.

Gorrin is coming off a successful season with Scottish Premiership outfit Motherwell and is out of contract at the end of the month. His availability has alerted many other clubs, including the likes of Aberdeen, Polish outfit Lech Poznan, Toronto FC and Atlanta United but Oxford are set to win the race.

According to the Scottish Sun, the Spanish midfielder will leave the Scottish club after just one season to link up with Karl Robinson’s Oxford.

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