Sunderland new boys happy with timing of international break

The duo both joined Sunderland in the final week of the transfer window, with Borini completing a £9.75m move from Liverpool on Monday and Toivonen moving on loan from Rennes last Thursday.

Toivonen, who is currently on international duty with Sweden, made his Black Cats debut as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, but Borini will have to wait almost a fortnight to make the first appearance of his second spell on Wearside.

The Italian spent the early weeks of the season training on his own after he was frozen out of Liverpool’s first-team set-up by Brendan Rodgers, and is delighted that this week’s international double-header will give him the chance to get up to speed before he makes his second Sunderland bow against Spurs.

“It’s a tough game straight away, but I think it’s good that the international break is now,” said Borini. “At Liverpool, I’d been training on my own, so it’s good for me to get fitness in my legs and my body, and be ready for the game.”

Toivonen will hope to be involved in Sweden’s forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers with Russia and Austria, and like his new Sunderland team-mate, the attacking midfielder is hoping to sharpen his fitness levels before challenging for a place in the side that takes on Tottenham.

“I didn’t expect to get 45 minutes (against Aston Villa),” he said. “That was a bit of a surprise – I thought I might get 15 minutes or so, but I’m not complaining.

“I’m not quite fit yet because I only had 20 minutes from the competition in France (with Rennes). Now, I have to train hard to improve that. This international break is a good time for the whole club to get fit. It’s a good break.”

Toivonen made an instant impact at Villa Park as he provided the pass that enabled Jeremain Lens to surge towards the box and claim Sunderland’s second-half equaliser.

The pair previously played together for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie, and Toivonen is hoping their relationship will help increase the Black Cats’ attacking threat in the remainder of the campaign.

“We played together for two or three years at PSV and built up a good relationship there,” he said. “Fortunately, I found him with the pass at the weekend, and he managed to score.”

* Duncan Watmore is hoping to make his England Under-21 debut in this evening’s friendly with the USA Under-23 team.

Gareth Southgate’s side are taking on the American Olympic squad to help prepare for their opening European Championships qualifier in Norway, and having earned his maiden call-up to the Under-21 squad last week, Watmore is determined to make a positive impression.

“We all want to (impress Southgate), see what happens in the games, and then go from there,” said the Sunderland striker, who has claimed two senior goals this season. “I’ve really enjoyed it so far.

“The coaching staff and the lads have made me feel really welcome, and there’s a few new faces so it’s been a really good start. I’m looking forward to the games.”