MICHAEL Beale wasted no time in getting to know his Sunderland squad, with the head coach watching on as several first team players featured for the Under-21s in a defeat to Arsenal on Monday night.

Nazariy Rusyn scored Sunderland's goal in a 2-1 loss, with Bradley Dack, Eliezer Mayenda, Adil Aouchiche, Mason Burstow and Hemir all in action.

Timothee Pembele, Aji Alese and Jay Matete also played 45 minutes on their timely return from injury and will now be hoping to play their way into Beale's plans in the coming weeks.

Beale was in attendance at Eppleton last night on his first scouting mission as head coach just hours after his appointment was confirmed.

He's already held lengthy talks with Mike Dodds - now assistant manager - and the rest of the Sunderland coaching team, with the new boss excited about the potential of the squad he's inherited and relishing the opportunity to get stuck in on the training pitches in the coming days.

"I'm a hands on coach so I'm on the pitch every single day," said Beale.

"I need to drive it, I need to show the energy and passion and need to ensure the team are a team for the fans in terms of the work ethic and what they want to see.

"My background has been coaching, that's where I'm at my best on the pitch with the players. I'm determined to lead from the front."

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Beale added: "It's a really proud moment for me and my family to be joining the club. It's a huge club, that's not lost on me and there's a big excitement to get started with the staff and players as well.

"That's a big part of me coming in, really being excited about the potential of this squad and the level they've been performing under Mike Dodds in the last few games but before that with Tony. He did a really good job in terms of bringing the team forward and last year getting to the play-offs and the start of the season we've had.

"Mike, Michael Proctor and the rest of the staff have taken that on, so I'm coming into a squad I'm really excited to work with, there's an excellent style and it's me adding my ideas and experience to a team that's already doing very well."

Asked what the fans can expect, Beale said: "The key thing they want is a team that wins on the pitch and is exciting to watch. We will have to use their energy but it comes from us first.

"It's important me and the staff and the players provide the energy and the excitement and I know they'll back us home and away. We have the most ferocious support in the Championship at the Stadium of Light and away. That's going to be so important to us moving forward.

"It's a young squad, there's an element of the Championship being unpredictable and certainly us having to be patient at times, but together we're strong so it's important the fans and the players together are united moving forward."