Hearts defender Conor Shaughnessy, signed on loan from Leeds United, seems to rate new Sunderland man Jimmy Dunne highly.
Sunderland have signed Jimmy Dunne on loan from Burnley in the January transfer window, and Leeds United-owned Heart of Midlothian youngster Conor Shaughnessy’s recent comments to The Scotsman will encourage the Stadium of Light faithful.
Dunne has moved to Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season, having spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
The 21-year-old central defender did well during his loan spell in Scotland, and the man who replaces him in Craig Levein’s side, Shaughnessy, recently spoke highly of him.
The 22-year-old, who can operate as a central defender or as a central midfielder, has moved to Hearts on loan from Leeds in the Championship in England until the end of the season.
The youngster recently admitted that it is going to be tough for him to replace Dunne in the Hearts team, and that underlines just how important and good the 21-year-old was during his loan spell at Tynecastle Park.
Sunderland are aiming to win automatic promotion from League One to the Championship at the end of the season.
Shaughnessy told The Scotsman: “I have heard a lot about what Jimmy did here. I watched a few of his games and he will be a tough one to replace.
“I’ve never met Jimmy and we were never in the same Irish Under-21 squads. I am coming here and hopefully I can do a similar job. This was a great opportunity for Jimmy and also for me to develop my game all round.
“It is the next step that I need in my career at my age.It just shows that a young player can come in and make an impression in a short space of time.
“It has improved Jimmy and he is now looked upon as a more senior player after his spell at Hearts. Hopefully Jimmy can kick on from there and the same thing happens to me.”
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