SUNDERLAND'S Danny Batth is glad to be playing with rather than against Amad Diallo, Patrick Roberts and co, though admits that he sometimes dreads the "teasing" that comes the way of the defenders on the training field.

Batth is an important experienced senior player in a young dressing room and while the focus for the centre-half is on keeping the ball out of the net at one end of the pitch, he's thoroughly enjoying watching Sunderland's talented crop of young players do their thing at the other.

And for Batth, there's an air of relief that he only has to come up against Sunderland's silky forward players in training rather than on a Saturday afternoon, for he pities the defenders who need to try and stop them.

"Some days I go into training and think 'oh it's going to be a long day'," laughs the defender.

"Attack vs defence and I have Amad and Patrick playing one-twos and teasing me. But it's good practise at the end of the day because it's not too often you come up against players of that level.

Joe Gelhardt has recently been added to Sunderland's attacking mix and although the Leeds United loanee offers a different sort of threat to the injured Ross Stewart, Batth believes the youngster has an awful lot to offer.

"He's sharp, he can pose a threat in behind. He's different to what we've had in Ross, but good players don't take too long to get used to playing with each other," said Batth.

"I've got no doubt that all those boys up-front can start sliding balls in for him. He can be a pest in the box and get across a defender, he can hold the ball up, he's strong, so I hope we see the best of him."

With such a young and exciting squad playing vibrant football, there's a buzz on Wearside that's shared within the dressing room.

"It's a privilege to part of," said Batth.

"We have a team that's dynamic, hungry, aggressive. You see the press and the way we move the ball. I think the fans love the way we're playing. Don't get me wrong, we're not going to get it right every week, but there's definitely a will to win there and a determination about the group."

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Given the fact is squad is so young and inexperienced, Tony Mowbray is understandably keen to manage expectations.

Batth says: "You look at the table and we're in a decent position. We're not up there with Burnley and Sheffield United but we're not down the bottom. In my eyes it's all to play for.

"If you put a good week together, you're going to be thinking this, that and the other. If you have a bad week you're going to be looking over your shoulder, so it's all about taking it one step at a time. Let's just try and win the next game."

That's against Reading tomorrow as the Black Cats look to build on their solid point at Millwall last time out in the Championship and their spirited showing in defeat to Fulham on Wednesday night. Despite going out of the FA Cup, Batth says Sunderland can be buoyed by their two displays against the top flight side.

He said: "Obviously we've lost the game but we have to realise how far we've come. You're playing against top players, international players and players who are getting results against Chelsea and these teams.

"The margins are very fine, but yeah I think we really enjoyed the cup run. Now we can focus on the league and see how we go until the end of the season."