SUNDERLAND will kick off the 2009-10 season with an away game at Bolton Wanderers.

Steve Bruce's first Premier League game in charge of the Black Cats will be at the Reebok Stadium on the weekend of August 15 following this morning's announcement of the fixture list.

The games will come thick and fast early on, with Chelsea due to visit the Stadium of Light for Sunderland's opening home game of the campaign three days later on August 18.

The Wearsiders will then complete August with a home game against Blackburn and an away match at Stoke.

October's twin highlights will be the trip to Manchester United on the 3rd and the home game with Liverpool on the 17th, while Arsenal will be the third of the Big Four to visit Wearside when they journey north on November 21.

Sunderland are at home to Everton on Boxing Day, and will round off 2009 with a trip to Blackburn on December 28.

2010's league programme starts with a home game against Bolton on January 9, before Sunderland head to Chelsea seven days later. Bruce's side are at Arsenal on February 20 and Liverpool on March 27.

Their final home game is against reigning champions Manchester United on May 1, and they will complete their fixtures with an away game at Wolves on May 9.

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