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Paolo di Canio is fuming with his Sunderland players – after they lost a closed-door game against the ‘kids’.

The fiery Italian planned the private practice match to give his senior stars 90 minutes under their belts during the ­international break.

Manager Di Canio had worked hard with the team after ­slamming them for losing at Crystal Palace, but the latest exercise backfired.

Sunderland’s ‘big team’ were well and truly beaten 3-1 by the Under-21 side that plays in the Premier League’s Professional Development League.

Di Canio was so incensed by the performance that he went over the game in detail afterwards – and also told all the players not to mention the match had even happened.

The manager has also been left with a ­decision to make on right-back Phil Bardsley, who is wanted on loan by ­Championship side Ipswich Town.

Bardsley, 28, who has no part to play in Di Canio’s plans, will make a loan switch next month when he has ­recovered from a broken foot that he suffered playing for Sunderland’s Under-21 side.

Bardsley has been out of favour with Di Canio since the build-up to the final game of last season at Tottenham.

He was told by the Italian that he would not play for the club again after

Last week, he was allowed to return to the club and his suspension was lifted after issuing a public apology

at Fulham on the opening day of the season.

After Sunderland had lost 1-0 to the Cottagers, the Scotland international posted the comment: “Great opening day. Hahahhahaha hahahhaha!!!” on social media site Instagram.