MICHAEL Beale says he's excited and honoured to be the new head coach at Sunderland - and was straight to work at the Academy of Light on Monday.

His first game in charge comes against Coventry City this Saturday. But what are his priorities at Sunderland and what must he do right?

GET THE FANS ON SIDE

The general feeling among supporters when news broke last week that Beale was set to get the Sunderland job was that it was an underwhelming appointment.

The hope - after the sacking of popular Tony Mowbray - was that the Black Cats had something up their sleeve, but it quickly became apparent there was no leading frontrunner.

Beale had been out of work since his Rangers sacking in October, with the Scottish club saying the decision was taken after results had "fallen short of what everyone would expect".

The 43-year-old started well in Scotland, winning 13 of his first 14 games, but ended his first season without a trophy and endured a difficult start to the current campaign. His recruitment was also criticised, but he won't be in charge of that department on Wearside.

While his Rangers stint was disappointing, Sunderland bosses have no doubt looked further back. He has a fine record of developing young players, having impressed Steven Gerrard with his work in Liverpool's academy before going on to join the ex-England's midfielder's coaching team at Rangers and then Aston Villa.

And he enjoyed a superb start to life in charge of QPR, where his growing reputation and his side's blistering start to the season led to a call from Wolves about their vacancy in October last year. He turned that job down but the uncertainty clearly had an impact in the QPR dressing room and a five-game winless run followed, before he took charge of Rangers.

Beale isn't the most popular appointment, but then again neither was Tony Mowbray initially. He quickly got fans on side with performances and results. Beale must do the same.

GET THE STRIKERS FIRING

Rarely a Tony Mowbray press conference passed without the former head coach being quizzed on the struggles of his strikers.

It's felt telling that in Mike Dodds' three games in charge of the Black Cats, he played without an orthodox striker, with Jobe Bellingham and Alex Pritchard instead tasked with leading the line.

How will Beale approach it?

Mason Burstow and Nazariy Rusyn have both had stints as starters but failed to make a case to stay in the team. Mowbray was impressed by Eliezer Mayenda in training but since his only start - which came in the home defeat to Huddersfield - he's played just 28 minutes of football across four games. Hemir has been bottom of the pecking order, with his last league start coming on the opening day of the season.

All four are inexperienced at this level and while there's confidence inside the club that they'll come good, Sunderland - and Beale - could really do with at least one of them finding their feet and some form soon.

JANUARY TRANSFER DISCUSSIONS

That leads us on to January. Mowbray admitted shortly before his exit that the prospect of needing to sign a striker in the winter window has been discussed. The fact that Dodds didn't start any of the four strikers in his three games in charge only strengthens the belief that the Black Cats will need to bolster their forward line in January.

Such is the way Sunderland work, Beale won't have the final say on next month's business but will still have some input and the club's plans for the window will have been discussed in negotiations over the past week.

Mowbray made clear during his time in charge that he felt another midfielder was also required. Although Jay Matete is closing in on a return to action and Corry Evans hopefully won't be too far away, it's an area where Sunderland are short and will likely need attention.

WHAT WILL HE DO WITH BELLINGHAM?

Both Mowbray and Mike Dodds have talked at length this season about the Bellingham wow-factor and their amazement that a player who only turned 18 in September is not only so mature on the pitch but so versatile.

Bellingham has played up-front, as a No.10 and as a deeper midfielder for Sunderland this season. Where will Beale use him?

It's credit to the teenager that the question is not will he play but where he'll play. He's quickly established himself as a major player for the Black Cats and one of Beale's crucial challenges on Wearside will be helping to continue the rapid development of a young star.

CONTINUE TO GET THE BEST OUT OF JACK CLARKE

If Sunderland are to maintain their promotion challenge this season, they must continue to get the best out of Jack Clarke.

January transfer speculation is inevitable but the feeling inside the club and around the player is that a move is unlikely in the winter window. Keeping hold of Clarke next summer will be an all-together different challenge, but Beale's focus must be on the here and now. Can he follow in Mowbray's lead and keep Clarke on top form?

STRAIGHT TO WORK

Beale will be grateful for the opportunity of a full week between fixtures. The lack of a midweek game gives the new head coach a prolonged stint on the training ground this week ahead of his first game.

This period will be vital for Beale in getting his messages across at the Academy of Light, for what follows after the visit of Mark Robins' side is a frantic flurry of  games. After Saturday comes a trip to Hull on Tuesday, Rotherham away on the Friday and Preston at home the following Monday. Beale and his players will need to adapt on the job.