Gus Poyet: “Eventually I would like to have 23 players in the first team, 24 max.
“And then I want to know 100 per cent that I’ve got five players in the U21s that when I need them, they can step up.
"I’m not talking about five coming up together because that wouldn’t be easy. But one at a time in different positions.
“Then you know if something happens in a position and you get an injury or suspension, you’ve got two players who can give you some competition.
“You need a system throughout the club. You can call it an identity.
“I don’t want the U21s to be exactly the same as the first-team.
“But with the general basics, yes there should be a similarity and with the U18s as well.
“They need to have a similar idea so when I need two to train in international week, they’re OK and they feel comfortable.
“They’re not suddenly doing the opposite to what they’re used to in training.”
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday November 30
15:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland
15:00 Cardiff City v Arsenal
15:00 Everton v Stoke City
15:00 Norwich City v Crystal Palace
15:00 West Ham United v Fulham
17:30 Newcastle United v West Brom
Sunday December 1
12:00 Tottenham v Man Utd
14:05 Hull City v Liverpool
16:10 Chelsea v Southampton
16:10 Manchester City v Swansea City
Tuesday December 3
20:00 Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Wednesday December 4
19:45 Arsenal v Hull City
19:45 Liverpool v Norwich City
19:45 Man Utd v Everton
19:45 Southampton v Aston Villa
19:45 Stoke City v Cardiff City
19:45 Sunderland v Chelsea
19:45 Swansea City v Newcastle United
20:00 Fulham v Tottenham
20:00 West Brom v Manchester City
Sunderland Fixtures
Saturday November 30
15:00 Premier League Aston Villa v Sunderland
Wednesday December 4
19:45 Premier League Sunderland v Chelsea
Saturday December 7
17:30 Premier League Sunderland v Tottenham
Saturday December 14
15:00 Premier League West Ham United v Sunderland
Tuesday December 17
19:45 League Cup - Qtr Sunderland v Chelsea
Saturday December 21
15:00 Premier League Sunderland v Norwich City
Thursday December 26
15:00 Premier League Everton v Sunderland
Saturday December 28
17:30 Premier League Cardiff City v Sunderland