YORK City manager Gary Mills is expecting a “tough workout” when Premier League big guns Sunderland visit Bootham Crescent tonight.

The Black Cats have promised to bring a strong squad to face the Minstermen, which will represent a stiff step up in class for Mills’ team who have won 5-0 at Tadcaster Albion and drawn 1-1 against Garforth Town in their opening pre-season outings.

It will be Sunderland’s first friendly ahead of the 2011/12 campaign but the City boss has instructed his players to concentrate on keeping possession against their top-flight counterparts.

He said: “We’ve had two run-outs for fitness so far and we’ll be looking for continued improvements and progress.

“My mate (Sunderland assistant-manager) Eric Black has told me they will be bringing a strong team so it will be a tough workout.

“We will learn from them the importance of not giving the ball away because, if you do against these teams, it’s hard to get it back.

“You can’t go chasing around like school kids, so we will have to be disciplined, keep our shape and do our jobs right.”

A 1,600-strong following from Wearside is expected this evening and Mills is also counting on a strong home contingent to boost revenue levels at the club and help build up the excitement ahead of the new campaign.

He added: “It’s a good pre-season game and hopefully they will be bringing a few people down.

“These matches are all about the expectations and excitement of the coming season and, for those fans who have not seen our new players yet, it will give them the chance to watch them and form their own opinions.”

City will be without midfielder David McDermott for the match with the club still waiting to hear whether he suffered ankle ligament damage at Monday night’s Garforth game.

But Scott Kerr is expected to recover from a swollen ankle with Mills saying: “Scott Kerr got a bit of a bang on his ankle and his foot’s a bit sore but he’ll be fine. He’s old school and will take a painkiller and get on with it.”

Home supporters will also see City play in their new kit for the first time against Sunderland with the shirt going on sale in the club shop before the match.

About the decision to change strip for a second successive summer, Mills said: “I came in last season and really enjoyed it but the new kit is all about having a fresh start for me.

“I understand the financial implications of bringing a new shirt out after only one season with the old one, but I think it’s a lovely, refreshing kit and, hopefully, the supporters will like it as much as I do.”

Squeezy does it, Carol...

YORK City boss Gary Mills got more than he bargained for when life-long Minstermen fan Carol Deighton joined the squad for their official photocall at Bootham Crescent.

Deighton is pictured getting to grips with Mills’ knee at the media event on the eve of tonight’s home friendly with Sunderland.