THE torture is over for Steve Bruce. Sunderland’s manager views pre-season football in much the same way as a trip to the dentist.

Quite what motivated so many to travel from Wearside to Edinburgh is a mystery when all that was awaiting them was a slowed-down version of the game in pouring rain with the excitement taken out. Their football club are extremely lucky to have them.

For the players, pre-season is a necessary evil as the sluggish performances of anyone who has had to do without proves each year.

For Sunderland’s, it has been even more important than ever.

Last May’s traditional lap of honour looked more like the march of a captured army there were so many limping or on crutches. Their need to find some fitness in this phoney war was even greater than usual.

With eight new signings in the ranks, the job of integration and acclimatisation was bigger too.

They can consider themselves fortunate the “i”s were dotted and the “t”s crossed before pre-season began.

If Sunderland do make the ninth addition they so badly need this summer – a genuine left-winger – he will not be so lucky.

For those who stayed at home waiting for news from the front, results in the early skirmishes have been mixed, veering towards the uninspiring.

If they had been competitive games, you might worry about a long campaign ahead. Hopefully, everyone has it in perspective.

There have been positives. The speed with which Ji Dong-Won has taken to English football, and Sunderland’s fans have taken to him, has been impressive.

Sebastian Larsson has reminded the travelling legions what a winger looks like.