Sunderland boss Mel Reay discusses pre-season so far, recruitment plans and the Championship season ahead

The turnaround from having their promotion application accepted had been tight, and the work needed to be ready significant.

Most encouraging was the team's all-round development through the latter stages of the campaign, seen not just in the league but in taking WSL side Birmingham to extra time in the FA Cup as one high-profile example.

Mel Reay's side are back at the Academy of Light ahead of the new campaign and the goal is to try and maintain that progress.

The Black Cats began their preparations at the Academy of Light on Sunday with an encouraging 3-1 win over SWPL side Motherwell.

Grace Ede and Abbey Joice finished off two incisive moves with excellent finishes either side of half time, before Neve Herron's dominance at corner kicks was finally rewarded with a deft headed goal at the front post.

Head coach Mel Reay saw plenty to work on but plenty to be pleased with as the programme steps up again this week, Sunderland facing Newcastle United on Thursday night and Hibernian on Sunday.

"The first game back is always a tough one, I think we've had 12 weeks now without a game," Reay told The Echo.

"So it's really pleasing, we've done well to meet some of the things we wanted to focus on. We had some really good spells, some rusty spells but that's what pre-season is all about.

"We feel like we're in a good place, it's just about building that match fitness up.

"It's a tough week for the players with three games, and it's just all about managing their minutes and making sure that they're all ready for the 21st."