Interim Academy Manager Stuart English has stressed the importance of progression and opportunity ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign. The Black Cats conceded two late goals against Norwich City as three points slipped through their grasp in the curtain raiser earlier today.
Goals from Caden Kelly and Joe Ryder gave the Wearsiders a 2-0 lead at the Lotus Training Centre, before the Canaries completed a second-half turnaround. While results may have been hard to come by last season - with the Black Cats finishing 13th in PL2 Division 2 last season - the likes of Kelly, Harrison Sohna, Jacob Carney and Ellis Taylor were all given first team opportunities in pre-season.
Alex Neil cast his eye over the youngsters in the pre-season tour of Portugal and again later in their preparations. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman are both advocates of promoting from within and have put faith in the likes of Dan Neil, Anthony Patterson and Jack Diamond by rewarding them with long-term contracts at the Stadium of Light.
READ MORE: Norwich City U21's vs Sunderland U21s action and reaction
The next wave of Sunderland prospects has just returned from a pre-season tour of Canada, with those who travelled to North America, missing today's game at Norwich. English told safc.com : “We haven’t had many opportunities recently to take many age groups away on tour, and a huge chance came about for the U21s to go to Canada.
“It’s a development journey for this group, and it was never an opportunity we were going to turn down for this stage of their development. For example, playing against Toronto FC II in front of over 3,000 fans in a wonderful stadium is a hugely important life experience for them.”
The average age of the squad to face the Canaries was just 17-years-old, with the Black Cats handing a debut to 15-year-old Chris Rigg. The youngster is being touted for big things having impressed in the U15's Floodlit Cup win last season.
The fixture against Norwich was an opportunity for a number of scholars to test themselves at a higher level. Speaking prior to the game, English said: "“It’s an equally important opportunity for the youngsters who haven’t travelled – particularly those who are making the step up into the Under-21 side for our trip to Norwich City.
“Whilst it will be a tough game, it is an opportunity for many of them to test themselves at a new level and play Under-21 football for the first time.
“That progression is what the Academy programme is all about and we think it will be hugely beneficial experience for them in their long-term development.”
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