Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce admits they could play a friendly while in camp in Austria.

Sunderland will be one of several European teams based in Austria and Allardyce knows that may lead to an impromptu encounter on the training ground.

“We'll maybe bump into another team from Europe out there, who might want to give us a game, although that would be behind closed doors," said Allardyce to the Sunderland Echo.

“It wouldn't be an official match, but that's happened to me in the past.

“But ultimately, it's about lifting the lads' endurance so they have the tenacity to cope with what will be another physical, exciting season, and hopefully one without the nerve-ends jangling at the back end.

“My focus is to keep everyone as fit as possible and then to get their fitness levels to where they are 100 per cent fit when the first game comes."