Cats prepared to play hardball if players stay away from training

SUNDERLAND’S first-teamers are due to report back for pre-season training tomorrow.

New manager Jack Ross will assemble his squad for the first time, although it will be something of a sparse gathering with departures vastly outnumbering arrivals so far.

John O’Shea, Billy Jones, Kazenga LuaLua, and Marc Wilson have all been released, Jason Steele has moved to Brighton and Fabio Borini is set to make his loan move to AC Milan permanent.

Paddy McNair’s move to Middlesbrough may also have gone through, while Wahbi Khazri and Bryan Oviedo are still at the World Cup.

Ross’ first job will be to see just who turns up. Or, more precisely, who stays away.

Last week, new owner Stewart Donald revealed that some players’ agents have informed the club that their clients will not be returning to Wearside under any circumstances.

We will find out soon enough whether they are men of their word or merely all bluff and bluster.

Until willing buyers are found, the Black Cats expect every player to fulfil their contract.

If they go AWOL, they will be in breach of their contracts and can expect to be dealt with harshly.

There are some players who are agitating for moves and frankly, the club will be glad to get rid of them.

Given Sunderland’s situation, the reality is that there will have to be some give and take this summer.

Donald is ready to compromise with fair-minded players who want to make a fresh start elsewhere.

However he has also warned that those who play hardball will be met with an equally tough response.