Numbers and fitness are key to recruitment

SUNDERLAND'S IMPRESSIVE SQUAD REBUILD IS DOWN TO FOCUSED CRITERIA

- By CLIVE YOULTON Football writer

TARGETING players likely to be durable was key to Sunderland’s recruitment in the summer.

‘That's according to head coach Regis Le Bris who has outlined players with a history of covering distances and staying fit was a priority in the summer.

Beating Chelsea was a highlight before Sunderland took points off Arsenal last weekend - when only Liverpool and Manchester City had achieved that this term.

Le Bris said: “Robustness is key in this league.

“You have to have a specific profile and we can now use data to profile the players.