Think I read he's been training a lot with the first team since pre-season, probably in the weights room as well.
Will be on a specific training programme, the Sports Science American lad who was with Wenger at Arsenal and then worked with the Germany squad will have it mapped out for them. Edit: wasn't Germany, it was Dortmund Shad Forsyth
I thought they were much better technically than our young lads. Thought Brobbey was poor other than his goal.
Sunderland Under-21s came from behind twice to secure a well-earned point in their opening Group D fixture of the Premier League International Cup against R.S.C. Anderlecht at the Stadium of Light. Goals from Brian Brobbey and Timur Tutierov in either half ensured the points were shared on Wearside. Anthony Patterson, Luke O'Nien, Harrison Jones, Brobbey and Eliezer Mayenda all started as the Lads looked to gain valuable minutes, with Graeme Murty’s side combining youth and experience. Second-year scholar Archie Lightfoot was named at full-back, while Ben Middlemas captained the team from midfield. The visitors took the lead inside four minutes when Lightfoot was penalised for handball. Anthony Patterson initially saved Ntanda Samuel’s penalty, but the Anderlecht forward reacted quickest to convert the rebound. Sunderland responded swiftly, levelling just seven minutes later as Jones played a clever pass through for Brobbey, who finished clinically into the bottom corner. Murty’s side grew into the contest, with Jack Whittaker coming close on 25 minutes, firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area. However, the Belgian side restored their advantage on 31 minutes when Joshua Bethuna struck an unstoppable effort from 25 yards into the top corner. After the break, Jenson Jones rattled the crossbar on 54 minutes as the young Black Cats pushed for a route back into the game. On the hour mark, Johnson, Mayenda and Brobbey were withdrawn in a planned change. Sunderland’s persistence paid off with ten minutes remaining when Whittaker threaded a pass through to Tutierov, who calmly rolled past his marker before slotting home the equaliser. The Lads held firm in the closing stages to secure an opening-day point in Group D. They now turn their attention to Monday’s Premier League 2 fixture away to Nottingham Forest. SAFC: Patterson, Jenson Jones, O'Nien, Johnson (Kindon), Lightfoot, Middlemas, Whittaker, Harrison Jones, Tutierov, Mayenda (Jaydon Jones), Brobbey (Scott) Substitutes: Allan, Kindon, Holcroft, Walsh, Moore, Scott, Jaydon Jones
To my eyes it looked a bit of a disjointed performance from strangers on different wavelengths playing against a well drilled apposition. Perhaps it was but with a bit more guile up front we could have won this game despite the shock start. Harrison Jones was my MoM by some distance.
Its a strange one, we tend to look a bit worse when we put a few first teamers in, its happened a few times over the years. As you say, it definitely disrupts the flow of the team a bit.
To emphasise the point about a lot of the players not being used to each other, Harrison Jones trains with the first team plenty of times and probably knew the type of pass that Brobbey preferred to score that goal. The other midfielders and attackers didn't have that knowledge.
I think someone mentioned earlier in the thread that they are controlling his minutes at the moment. Presumably part of the plan to get him back to full fitness.
Murty said that about Zak Johnson a couple of games back. I'v not seen that myself said about Abdullahi but maybe I have missed it, I would like to see him back soon tho, as he looks very promising to me .
Thanks mate, I may have misunderstood what was said. @RTB please see above comment In effect we don't know about Abdullahi.
