Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray believes Town will be a big test for his side when the teams meet in their opening game live on Sky on Sunday 6 August.

Former Blues skipper and coach Mowbray, whose side finished sixth last season and reached the play-off semi-finals before being beaten by Luton, says the Championship has become tougher this summer.

“The landscape has changed because the relegated Premier League teams can spend £10m or £8m on a player, and there have been some pretty big additions to their squads,” Mowbray, 59, told Chronicle Live.

“Of course, they have lost maybe £50 million or £100 million-worth of players if you look at, say, Leicester who have lost [James] Maddison and [Harvey] Barnes.

“They have lost some really talented players for big money and have tried to replace them with big signings in the Championship.

“Leicester, Southampton, Leeds, are three pretty big, established, football clubs that will be a handful in this division so let's see how they adjust and adapt.

“It seems this season the league is going to be tougher - even Ipswich Town coming up [from League One].

“I was there for nine years as a player and coach, it's a big club with a big fanbase and they are very passionate having won the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.

“It's a big, big club, and it will be a big test for us on the opening day. Sheffield Wednesday also coming out of that league, then Plymouth as a bit of an unknown quantity.

“The league looks tough but I am sure that other teams look at Sunderland and think 'that's a tough fixture' home and away.”

The Black Cats still have two friendlies to play, against La Liga RCD Mallorca at the Stadium of Light on Saturday and at National League Hartlepool next Tuesday.

“I think we're already anxious to get going,” continued Mowbray, whose assistant on Wearside is another Blues legend, Mark Venus.

“But we've got a couple of games first against Mallorca at the weekend and then Hartlepool on Tuesday. We're all just keen to get started now.”

Photo: Action Images

cookra added 10:17 - Jul 27 WOOAAAAH TONY MOWBRAY WOOAAAAH TONY MOWBRAY ARM UP , FLAG UP, YOUR OFFSIDE
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Gforce added 10:31 - Jul 27 Can't wait for the new season to kick off. Sunderland away is a tough start,but I've a feeling it will end all square 1-1 .
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Bluearmy_81 added 10:47 - Jul 27 I remember when Evans was slowly killing us off some fans on here saying the exact opposite “we’re not a big club…” almost legitimising the lowly position we had sunk to (maybe it was Evans posting on here!) 30k in the 3rd tier when entertainment retired, we evidently are.
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Bluearmy_81 added 10:47 - Jul 27 *Returned
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Orraman added 11:27 - Jul 27 Oh that header at Wembley. Unforgettable.
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Naylorsrightboot added 11:37 - Jul 27 Mogga what a player. Was so passionate when he was at Town. And who can forget Venus, great player and those free kicks!!!!
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fredbarber added 11:56 - Jul 27 Still love this guy. What a centre half
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Monkey_Blue added 11:58 - Jul 27 Can’t wait until next Sunday but love Mogga. Hugged me and my mate and chatted for ages in the bar at Wembley after the play-off final… total passion( he was sober). No love for Sunderland but anyone he’s managing I always hope they do well.
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Broganonthewing added 12:00 - Jul 27 Venus was next to Stewart the best business Burley did! Exchanged with Sedgley plus money our way, a great deal!
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howsey51 added 13:14 - Jul 27 Venus. Mowbray. Mcgreal. A major major reason we got promotion that year. I admit I thought mcgreal and venus would be so far out of their depth in the prem and then they were integral in us finishing 5th. Amazing group.
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Flamencaman added 15:11 - Jul 27 The free kick where Venus hit the Norwich players ankle bowled him over
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ImAbeliever added 15:45 - Jul 27 howsey51..spot on, followed by Serini and George and all that brought down on us.
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:56 - Jul 27 ive always liked you Mogga, dont spoil it opening game ! lol.
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PortmanTerrorist added 16:50 - Jul 27 Still staggered that the stars never aligned for Mogga and Venus to have managed us, but he keeps on showing what a quality manager he is. To get that team of basically kids playing such great football and to get in the play offs last season was immense.... might have got promoted if they had a bit more height at the back! Still, I have a feeling they will find this season much tougher. Starting against us!

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churchmans added 18:51 - Jul 27 Blue army81 summed up perfectly it was the same idiots who said 'carefully what you wish for' an all this pillocks, the Mccarthy and Paul Hurst lovers especially got my goat
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blueboy1981 added 08:58 - Jul 28 Mogga was a Legend for us - TOTAL RESPECT for that. I’m sure he still bleeds Blue !
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algarvefan added 09:06 - Jul 28 First game, Stadium of Sh*te, I'll be happy with a draw to be honest. I say it every season draw your away games and win at home and you'll be up there in the mix come the end of the season!!
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