Jon McLaughlin has welcomed the fresh competition of new signing Lee Burge, describing his new team-mate as a 'good guy'.
Burge has been brought in this summer by Jack Ross on a free transfer from Coventry City after Robbin Ruiter and Max Stryjek both left the club.
But Ross made clear to the 26-year-old that he would be coming to the club to play back up to Scotland international McLaughlin, who firmly established himself as number one during a brilliant debut campaign on Wearside last term.
Despite that, Burge showed in pre-season that he is a more than capable deputy should he be needed at all throughout the season, be it as a result of injury or McLaughlin's international involvement.
In any squad, competition is a good thing that keeps players on their toes, providing that competition is healthy. Particularly with goalkeepers where only one spot is on offer, its imperative they have a good relationship, given their dependence on one-another for warm-ups and how often they spend time together isolated from the outfield players in the squad.
The good news for Sunderland fans is that the two appear to have hit it off quickly.
McLaughlin said of Burge: "He's a really good guy and a good guy.
"He's been playing lots of games in the last couple of years, so he has good experience at this level.
"He's used to playing and it will be good to have him alongside us. So far it's been very enjoyable working with him."
McLaughlin, Burge and the rest of the Black Cats squad are currently preparing for the new campaign, which kicks off on Saturday at home to Oxford.
The game will see Jack Ross become the first Sunderland manager since Steve Bruce - now of course in charge at rivals Newcastle United - to begin consecutive seasons in the hotseat at the Stadium of Light.
That's a damning indication of just how much the club chopped and changed managers over recent years. And despite all the trouble it got them in, there were still many calling for Ross' head when he failed to deliver promotion last term.
McLaughlin, however, believes Sunderland begin this season in a far stronger position than most, because they've only needed to make minor changes this summer.
"Anyone will tell you that any club that is successful will have that continuity running through its players, its staff and so on. You need that," he said.
"Whether it's the players on the pitch or the staff off it, if you've got that consistency you build relationships and bonds and understanding of how one-another works. You get to know each other and trust each other, and that's always going to bring more success than a high turnover and uncertainty.
"So this summer it's good to see we've not lost too many, we've added some faces and the nucleus of the group and the management team are still there.
"Hopefully we're ready and fully prepared to attack this season and get what we need out of it."
