Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is delighted with the early transfer market work they've pulled off.
Bruce, who still has two Premier League loan signings up his sleeve before the closure of the transfer window, is confident this summer's policy of buying early will help his squad hit the ground running when they kick off at Liverpool next month.
He said: "I always felt it was going to be important to get as many players in as quickly as possible, and Niall agreed. We lost six players so it was important to get a few in before we started. At least it'll give us five or six weeks to work with them.
"The big thing for me was the two Manchester United boys O'Shea and Brown. I think when they joined there was a real feel-good factor about things and all around the town, everybody's talking about the start of the season and that's terrific.
"To get two established players out of Manchester United is quite a coup. If I'm honest, I didn't really think it would be possible. Two or three years ago, it probably wouldn't have been, but now they're looking at it and seeing that Sunderland are having a right good crack.
"It's up to us now to get a team together with what we've got but we're going in the right direction.
"The eight days in Germany will be vitally important because we'll get all of the new lads away and they'll get to know each other a bit better."