SUNDERLAND wants to arrange a friendly at the Academy of Light this weekend in a bid to make up for the lack of football before the festive fixtures.

The Black Cats have a free Saturday before Christmas because they were originally due to face Bury before the expulsion as a result of financial problems.

That means Sunderland have had to factor in a 12-day break between Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blackpool and the visit of Bolton, who also started the season with cash issues and a 12-point deduction, on Boxing Day.

Rather than view the situation as a negative, Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson is determined to make the most of it. Not only does he want the extra time on the training pitch, he thinks it could benefit his players after injury.

Charlie Wyke started his first game after his lay-off against Blackpool and Lynden Gooch emerged from the bench in the second half after his spell on the sidelines. Marc McNulty was also on the bench after his injury.

Sunderland No 2 Steve Parkin said: “In an ideal world we could have done with the game this Saturday but at least it gives us a block of training for Gooch and Charlie now.

“Gooch only had two or three days training before the Blackpool game. He is bubbly around the place so we made sure he was involved. He could have done with more training and a game but we put him in and he has done well.

“The boys were in Tuesday, the block of training will be organised for over this period. The 23s game on Wednesday could mean we use that for a couple of players and then see that weekend for a possible game too.”

Since taking over Parkinson has argued that he has not had as much time as he would like on the training ground between matches to work on specific styles of play and tactics.

This is a period to improve on that, while he is also keen to see the squad he has inherited build on an improved display against Blackpool following last week’s unwanted situation when he told Aiden McGeady to look for a new club.

“The key thing is we have to concentrate on the football, the fans were great on Saturday,” said Parkin. “They saw the players wanted to get on the ball and be brave, we have to concentrate on that really.

“We have to see if we can chase a few teams down over Christmas. We have experience of this division, the business end of the season like last season only kicks in after Christmas.

“You can try to sign a few in January, the important thing is what happens in both boxes after January as you get towards the finishing line.”

Sunderland have big intentions next month. Parkinson is understood to be looking to add up to five new players.

He is likely to let some go, with McGeady clearly one having told him he is no longer welcome to train with the first team. Blackpool and a few Championship clubs are also keen.

Sunderland are already well adrift of the top two target which was set in the summer following last season’s failure to deliver promotion. Wycombe already appear out of sight, 16 points ahead of 12th spot and second placed Ipswich are nine ahead of the Wearsiders.

Parkinson is convinced he can lift Sunderland up the table after the turn of the year and make a fight for it and the four point gap to the play-off zone is more of a realistic target.

The former Bolton and Bradford boss is in discussions with recruitment team Richard Hill and Tony Coton to hear updates, and Sunderland have been heavily linked with Feyenoord midfielder Liam Kelly. The 24-year-old left Reading in the summer but his move to Holland has not gone to plan.