CATS WILL BE UP TO SCRATCH

Le Bris wary but confident his side ready for Prem'

- BY IAN MURTAGH

REGIS LE BRIS has warned his players to “mind the gap” as Sunderland prepare for their first Premier League game in nine years.

He's also told them they must suffer for the cause and that there will be periods of struggle in the months ahead.

But that doesn’t mean the Frenchman has already written off the Black Cats' season.

Far from it. While he's well aware of the potential pitfalls for a newlypromoted side, Le Bris is nothing if not prepared.

And he's confident that his young squad, reinforced by a near £150m spending spree, can buck the trend and succeed where so many before them have failed.

"It is a big gap between the two leagues, probably the biggest gap in Europe," he said. "We are aware of the challenge, so now we have to face it.