Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete has split opinion on Wearside since arriving from Fleetwood Town in January 2022. The youngster featured 14 times for the Black Cats as they won promotion to the Championship, but has struggled for game time since their return to the second tier.
The 22-year-old was a standout performer for the Under-21s whenever he dropped down for more game time, but he didn't quite get a consistent run of games in the first-team. There were calls from supporters for Matete to be given a run of games in Tony Mowbray's sidebut, instead, a loan move to promotion chasing Plymouth Argyle would follow.
During his spell at Home Park, the Sunderland midfielder has nailed down his place in the Pilgrims' engine room and had quite the impact on their push for promotion.
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Chronicle Live spoke with Chris Errington, Plymouth Argyle reporter for Plymouth Live for an insight into Matete's loan spell at Home Park.
What was the general consensus among supporters when he signed?
Chris Errington: "One of excitement. A lot of the Green Army were aware of how highly rated Matete was at Fleetwood Town before making the switch to Sunderland for a sizable fee. Those who weren't aware of him already were soon impressed by his early performances for the promotion-chasing Pilgrims, slotting straight into an already successful team.
What sort of role has he played and how has he fared?
CE: "Argyle needed more of a physical presence in central midfield and Matete has given them that with his ability to snap into tackles, break up play and get them going forward.
"He has been one of the two deeper central midfield players in Steven Schumacher's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, competing for a place with Argyle academy graduate Adam Randell, former Chelsea prospect Jordan Houghton and Matt Butcher."
Are there any games or moments where he's stood out in particular?
CE: "Any new signing always wants to get off to a good start in their first game in front of a home crowd and Matete did just that, earning the player-of-the-match accolade on his home debut for Argyle in a 4-2 win League One against Cheltenham Town, when it was immediately obvious he would be a good fit for the Pilgrims for the reasons mentioned above.
"There was also the home game against Derby County at the start of this month when he and Callum Wright were sent on as 56th minute substitutes and turned the game in Argyle's favour as they recovered from a one-goal deficit to beat the Rams 2-1 in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras."
Has Steven Schumacher said anything about Matete's future at the club?
CE: "Not really, no. But after that game against Derby he said the following: "He was brilliant. Throughout the half-an-hour that he played, or 35 minutes, he didn't put a foot wrong. He made some big tackles, he made some brilliant passes and interceptions, and we know that's what he is good at.
"Now I will keep it private with what we have spoken about (with Matete) and the areas of the game he needs to improve on because I don't need to highlight it for everybody else, but he will only get better.
"He's only 22 years old. He's here to help us as a team but he's also here to improve himself and his own development."
Has Matete said anything regarding his future?
CE: "No, he hasn't. Matete has not done many media interviews since joining Argyle in January but when he spoke after the recent 3-0 defeat at in-form Barnsley it was clear his full focus was on Argyle's push for promotion to the Championship.
"He said: "It's in our hands, that's how we want it. We have just got to do what we have got to do, take it a game at a time. It's probably going to be a long 10 games, it's going to feel like it, but we are all confident that we can get the job done."
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