There was a familiar face in the opposing line-up for any Sunderland fan who attended the Under-21s game against Leeds United. Wearside born Sam Greenwood broke into the Whites' first-team set-up last season and impressed boss Jesse Marsch in the pre-season ahead of the current campaign.
The 20-year-old England youth international looks on course to fulfil that potential claim, made so many years prior. Red and white supporters were left reeling when Greenwood made the reported £500,000 switch from the Academy of Light to join Arsenal in 2018, aged just 16.
It was another reminder of Sunderland's fall from grace and a worrying sign of their inability to hold onto their best upcoming talent. Greenwood would join Leeds United for a reported fee of £1.5million in 2020, further signs - if it were ever needed - that the Black Cats had lost a real gem.
