WITH nearly ten days to go until Sunderland kick off their first pre season friendly, Lee Johnson's side look like they could be working with short numbers.

Just 19 players are currently on the books while the club await news on their out-of-contract quartet. Charlie Wyke, Luke O'Nien, Aiden McGeady and Denver Hume have all been offered fresh terms by the club. 

Striker Ellis Taylor recently signed a professional deal with the club but he joins a number of youngsters in the first team squad who are currently lacking in experience in the red and white. 

The Black Cats are due to face National League North side Spennymoor Town in a friendly match at the Brewery Field on Saturday 3rd July. 

Granted that pre season is an opportune time to give youngsters a run out to prove their worth to the team. However, the club could present themselves with a scenario of placing too much responsibility on them. 

The Sunderland hierarchy are hopeful of making some additions over the summer. Dion Sanderson remains high on the priority list with Wolves rjecting a £1m bid from Sunderland. He won the Sunderland AFC Supporters Player of the Year award last season during his loan spell. 

While Johnson is currently trying to add numbers to his squad, there is the danger of losing more players over the summer. 

Elliot Embleton is a wanted man after a hugely successful spell on loan with Blackpool helping them achieve promotion via the League One play-offs, something the Black Cats failed to do.

The Tangerines may well be prepared to use some of their promotion funds to cash in on Embleton but they will have to test Sunderland's resolve in doing so and they will demand a sizeable fee for the 22-year-old's services. 

Either way, Sunderland may well find themselves lagging in a foot race to bring in fresh new talent with the beginning of the League One campaign arriving on 7th August. 

Along with that, Sunderland await news on their League One fixture list, which is released at 9am tomorrow morning.