Alan Browne believes he isn’t too far behind when it comes to his match fitness after making his first appearance in a Sunderland shirt during the club’s pre-season friendly win over CD Eldense in Spain.

Régis Le Bris’ team concluded their warm weather training camp with a 2-1 win over the Segunda Division outfit with goals from Tom Watson and a stunning winner from Luis Hemir Semedo, having drawn 1-1 with Nottingham Forest 48-hours earlier.

Browne, who missed Sunderland’s opening pre-season friendlies with South Shields and Gateshead, as well as that draw with Nottingham Forest, made his first outing since joining on a free transfer from Preston North End earlier this month when starting and captaining the Sunderland side against Eldense in midfield. The 29-year-old featured for 45 minutes as he continues to build up his fitness ahead of the new campaign but the Irishman is not concerned about being behind the rest of the squad as they return to the North East this week.

 

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“It was good to finally get some minutes under my belt,” said Browne. “It was tough conditions against a good side. But it was all about gearing up for the season and getting as many minutes as possible, and for me, being a little bit behind, it was good to finally get out there.

“Hopefully that’s the start of it now, and as the games come I can progress that and start building towards full match fitness.

“It’s all about getting minutes under the belt for the boys and building up your fitness as the season approaches because it’s not long now. I think the boys are nearly there, and I won’t be too far behind them myself, and hopefully the performances will start coming as well.”

Alan Browne signed a three-year deal with Sunderland after bringing an end to a ten-year stay with Preston North EndAlan Browne signed a three-year deal with Sunderland after bringing an end to a ten-year stay with Preston North End (Image: Sunderland AFC)

Browne spent ten years at Preston and brings a wealth of Championship experience to the Stadium of Light with over 400 appearances to his name – something Sunderland have craved this summer following last season’s drop off in form by their young and inexperienced side.

The midfielder spoke with We Are Sunderland during the club’s pre-season trip to Spain, detailing his decision to end a decade-long stay at Deepdale and why the project on Wearside brought a lot of intrigue under new head coach Le Bris. And on the back of a successful warm weather training camp, the Irishman admits he already feels at home with his new team-mates.

 

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“I wasn’t sure what it would be like coming to a new club, but the boys have been great and the staff have been great,” he said. “It’s been easy to settle in. Already I feel part of it.

“It’s been a really good trip, the facilities have been really good, and there’s been a lot of bonding and time to get to know the boys a bit better and the staff as well. All round it’s been a good trip.

“The fans have come out in a lot of numbers to support the boys and I’m told they’ll do that right through to the start of the season so it was good see them out here and we got a good result as well.”

Sunderland return home to the North East before facing three further pre-season friendlies with Blackpool, Bradford City and Olympique Marseille before their season begins with a trip to Cardiff City next month.