Sunderland's academy rounded off their pre-season trip to Italy as the under-18s were beaten 5-2 by Atalanta following a week's warm weather training camp.
Both the under-21s and under-18s flew out to Italy last week to undergo an extensive training camp with four fixtures over the course of the last six days against Hellas Verona under-20s, Serie A side Bologna, Inter Milan under-19s and Atalanta under-19s.
Both groups have been tested against older age groups in challenging climates as Sunderland look to build on what was a productive season at both age groups last year - particularly the club's under-21s who reached the Premier League 2 play-off final. The 21s ended their training camp against Champions League opposition in Bologna, who finished fifth in Serie A last season, with boss Graeme Murty believing the time spent in Italy is the first step to a successful pre-season.
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"It's been a really lovely experience for the boys, the weather is fantastic for them and it's a new thing for them to cope with," said Murty. "Each of the players have done something they need to learn and grow from. It's been an excellent task and an excellent challenge and it's been really good to see some of the younger players, some of the under-18s, stepping up.
"Hopefully it will give them a bit of hunger and a desire to go and experience it more often. We just need to temper it and shape it."
Murty added: "It's about getting concepts into the players. Pre-season is a process to get the players from a certain state into the season, fit and ready to go, and if we do that with everyone fit and firing then pre-season has been a success.
"This is a step on the way, it just happens to be in a fantastic environment, with great weather, and it's a great opportunity to get to know the players away from the distractions of home and see what they're really like and to dig into their character a little bit."
Sunderland's academy squads have been in Italy as part of a warm weather pre-season training camp (Image: Sunderland AFC)
Sunderland's trip to Italy included a number of players who have recently agreed their first professional deals with the club as they look to cement their place in the club's plans and find themselves on the pathway to the first team set-up, similar to what has been the case with Tom Watson this summer.
The winger, on the back of an impressive season for the academy last year, was included in Régis Le Bris' first team squad who travelled to Spain last week and made a significant contribution when getting on the scoresheet in the senior squad's win over CD Eldense on Sunday.
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Sunderland's trip ended with four successive defeats as a listed under-21s squad were beaten 2-1 by Verona and 3-0 by Bologna, while the under-18s lost 2-0 to Inter Milan before a 5-2 defeat by Atalanta.
Rhys Walsh, who joined the club last summer, and Finn Geragusian, who recently signed a scholarship deal with the club, were on target for the academy sides across the four fixtures as Murty and his teams head back to Wearside to continue their preparations for the new campaigns.
Fin Lynch's under-18s will return to the Academy of Light before a fixture with Hull City and the Sunderland academy coach believes the experience in Italy will only benefit the club's young squad.
Lynch said: “It has been a great week away for the lads who have done really well to take on board all the information in difficult conditions.
“They have gained great experience against two elite teams in Inter Milan and Atalanta.
“We have enjoyed embedding the new lads who are making their transition. The hard work will continue when we land back at the AoL.”
Sunderland's under-21s will next face a short trip to Victoria Park to take on Hartlepool United in pre-season.
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