ground New Sunderland manager Jack Ross is looking forward to seeing the club's talented young players on the training ground COMMENTS By Stuart Rayner 07:00, 8 JUN 2018 Play Video TAP TO PLAY WATCH NEXTIs Sunderland vs Celtic on TV, what time is kick-off and who is in the teams?Sunderland’s youngsters in pre-season because no amount of video will tell him how good they can be. Bringing through players from the Academy of Light is a big part of Ross’ job as the Black Cats’ new manager. The process is already under way, with the likes of Joel Asoro, Elliot Embleton, Lynden Gooch, George Honeyman, Denver Hume, Josh Maja, Luke Molyneux, Bali Mumba and Ethan Robson all paying first-team football last season. p:nth-of-type(2)","sizes":[[8,8]],"hideOnSensitiveArticle":true,"relativePos":"after","additionalClass":"in-article","name":"div-gpt-ad-vip-slot","type":"VIP"}" data-response-start="2222.0999999990454" data-type="gpt" data-requested="3645.7999999984168" data-google-query-id="CKKVtIa3w9sCFVYi0wodmo8PcA" data-timer-slot-rendered="7484.899999995832" data-rendered-width="1" data-rendered-height="1" data-response-end="11951.700000005076" data-viewable="true" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; z-index: 1; height: 1px; max-height: 1px;"> The club’s new owner Stewart Donald is determined to protect the Academy of Light’s status as a top-rated breeding ground for footballers, with the intention of making full use of those who come off the production line. please log in to view this image Aston Villa's captain John Terry, center, battles for the ball with Sunderland's Joel Asoro (Image: Sunderland AFC) “When you’ve got a category one academy you should be producing good young players,” 41-year-old Ross commented. “I know there’s also some with first-team experience, so it is about that next step which is consistency and that is the hardest one to take. It is the final part and the hardest one, so you have to have an environment where they can prosper. “Part of that is being faithful to them in difficult periods, trusting in them with which means they can trust themselves. I’m excited by what I hear about these guys because it certainly seems there’s a good chance they can establish themselves as regulars.” Honeyman made more Championship starts than any other Sunderland player in his first full season of senior football, while the likes of Gooch, Maja and Robson were dipped in and out. READ MORE Sunderland AFC Latest News please log in to view this image Didier Ndong please log in to view this image Safe standing Captain question Retained list Honeyman and strikers Asoro and Maja are expected to be in demand this summer with their contracts ticking down. Ross mustdecide whether to offer them new deals, as Chris Coleman had (in the case of Asoro and Maja) or planned to (Honeyman and Gooch) before his sacking in April, cash in, or risk them running down their contracts. ol>li:nth-of-type(2)","sizes":[[300,250],[300,252],[9,2]],"hideOnSensitiveArticle":true,"relativePos":"after","adFreeEnabled":true,"additionalClass":"in-article","name":"div-gpt-ad-in-article-slot","referenceNode2":".article-body > p:nth-of-type(7)","type":"inArticleMPU4","relativePos2":"after"}" data-response-start="2222.80000000319" data-type="gpt" data-requested="3657.0000000065193" data-google-query-id="CKOVtIa3w9sCFVYi0wodmo8PcA" data-timer-slot-rendered="7577.600000004168" data-rendered-width="300" data-rendered-height="252" data-response-end="24856.79999999411" data-viewable="true" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; overflow: hidden; z-index: 1; height: 252px; max-height: 252px;"> But the former St Mirren manager says those decisions will be difficult to reach until he has seen them in the flesh. Sunderland’s players are due to report back for pre-season training on June 22. “As a manager I’ve always found that you don’t properly get a feel for them until you work with them on the training ground,” he said. “Even if you watch them pitchside until you have that contact day-in, day-out, you don’t really get a sense of their potential. It’ll be the same with all the players, young and older, but is a process that excites me.”
I'm surprised Josh Robson was shown the door, I quite liked the three Robsons and am surprised only one was given a chance to progress here, sounds like things might change with our new management/coaching set up, I for one hope so. Still sorry that Stockdale was not a part of the new regime, but that's the nature of football these days.
I would expect them to work there socks off And if not selected Work there socks again and again Nothing comes easy
