Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has explained giving his international players an extra day off.

Poyet gave the nine players returning from international duty the day off yesterday but admitted they face "a nightmare" when they meet up for the first time at their Academy of Light training ground today.

Poyet said: "I have spoken to a few of the guys who have been away on international duty. Its not nice for the players to be away when a new manager comes in.

"They will think 'theres a new manager who has come in, I havent been around, so I am going to be out of the team'. Its nothing to do with that, nothing like that.

"I want them all to be relaxed about me being here when they come back to training. I want them to just get themselves back here normal and fit.

"The Thursday and Friday before the Swansea game will be unbelievable for them. The amount of information they are going to get is incredible. It will be a nightmare for the players coming back.

"They will all be together for the first time. I need them all in to convince them to be ready. It is going to be very demanding for them over those days, mentally, not physically as much.

"We need them all to know what has been happening over the last eight days and to be prepared for the Swansea game."