Sunderland have often overlooked their academy – but with David Moyes in charge the club’s youngsters are finally getting a chance.
Joel Asoro may have been nominated for the prestigious Golden Boy award but that does not mean that David Moyes is ready to through him into the thick of the action for Sunderland, The Chronicle reports. At least not yet anyway.
The 17-year-old Swede is distinctly unlikely to be challenging Ousmane Dembele, Kasper Dolberg and Kylian Mbappe for the title of Europe’s most prestigious youngster having played just nine minutes of Premier League football all season.
But the fact he is even considered worthy of a nomination shows just what a talent Sunderland have on their hands. And, after featuring heavily under Moyes in pre-season last summer, the Scot clearly believes his ability – though Asoro may have to wait to show it.
“Joel has got potential and he is very young,” he said in quotes reported by The Chronicle. “He is 18 this week and he is someone who we introduced into the first-team set-up during pre-season because of numbers but he made a big impact.
“Like all young players their development can be up and down. There have been parts of this season when he has been good and bits of the season when he has dipped.
“But with his age he is doing really well and his development is coming on nicely and we hope we can continue that.”
The versatile Asoro, comfortable either as a striker or an attacking midfielder, is already a Sweden Under-21 international despite not yet turning 18. And, with Sunderland seemingly certain to drop into the second tier, the teenager should find opportunities easier to come by next season.
Especially with Moyes keen to build the debt-ridden club upon their talented young players. Jordan Pickford, Lynden Gooch, Josh Maja and George Honeyman have all been handed opportunities this season.
And Asoro should be next in line.
Furthermore, it appears that Sunderland are learning from their mistakes. The sight of John Egan and Connor Hourihane (below), never given an opportunity at the Stadium of Light after coming through the academy, making their Republic of Ireland debuts highlights the lack of short-term thinking at the club in recent seasons.
Moyes is at least having a positive impact in one department.
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