Sunderland fans have been handed reassurances over their club's summer transfer endeavours.

What's the word?

That is according to an interview conducted by the club's official website with Black Cats manager Alex Neil, who believes that his side need to add quality and depth to the squad in preparation for an ultra-competitive campaign back in the Championship.

In the interview with the club, the 41-year-old said: "That's one thing [underestimating the division] that I'm really trying to guard against with everybody in the building,

"The Championship is a league that's obviously been my bread and butter for a number of years, the difficulty you have is that, unlike League One or at least from the sample I had from it, you can play top of the league and then bottom, and both of the games are equally difficult.

"You need to fight tooth and nail for every point. Providing we understand that, providing we go and try and do the best we possibly can in the recruitment window, and obviously add as much quality and depth to the squad as we can, we'll give ourselves the best chance of being successful.

Supporters surely buzzing

Despite securing promotion to the Championship and now approaching the halfway point in the off-season, Sunderland have been relatively quiet on the transfer front, signing just one player in Leon Dajaku as they executed the buyout clause in his loan deal to make his stay permanent.

Other than that, the narrative has mainly been about retaining key players at the club, with the likes of Ross Stewart a focus of attention with the likes of Rangers sniffing around.

Neil is completely correct, though. Sunderland need to add quality to the squad and, having come from the mouth of the Black Cats manager, supporters can take solace in knowing that the club are likely to be planning additions to the playing ranks.

Indeed, these comments from the 41-year-old could well have the Wearside faithful buzzing with excitement as to who might be coming in over the next few weeks.

AND in other news: Speakman now plotting Sunderland bid for "outstanding" 22-year-old, Neil needs him badly