Luke O'Nien has his say on Sunderland's win at South Shields and scorers Hemir and Rigg

Sunderland beat South Shields in their first pre-season friendly earlier today.

Summer signing Luis Hemir scored Sunderland's opening goal of the game before Jack Clarke netted twice, with youngster Chris Riss scoring a late winner.

It marks a winning start to pre-season for the Black Cats who then took on Gateshead later in the afternoon, which ended in a 3-2 win for Tony Mowbray's side.

And speaking to the club after the game, Luke O'Nien said:

"Just getting that match day feeling back is really good I think. I was just speaking to all the fans that have turned up today and I think a lot of people including myself have missed it."

Hemir joined from Benfica earlier this summer, and the 19-year-old was on hand to score Sunderland's first goal of the game. Rigg meanwhile has recently put pen to paper on a two-year scholarship, rejecting approaches form the likes of Newcastle United in the process.

"There's a lot of good performances. Hemir, he looks good, he looks promising which is good, and he's done really well in pre-season. Riggy, I've loved him from the first time he came up to the first-team and I think probably smashed me! He's been great."

Sunderland starting the summer with two wins is obviously positive. What it's about though is giving everyone a run out and two games in a single day gave Mowbray the chance to utilise everyone.

There's some new faces in the side and it looks like they'll be good additions, with Hemir's goal bound to give him mounds of confidence going forward.

As for Rigg, he continues to impress and if he can enjoy a good pre-season then he could yet be involved in Sunderland's first-team next season.

Read more Sunderland news