League One Sunderland have taken Scotland midfielder Ruben Sammut on trial from Premier League powerhouses Chelsea.
Ruben Sammut has been at Chelsea since the age of eight and even captained their U23 side last season. So, while the young midfielder might not make the grade at Stamford Bridge, he could be a fine investment for Sunderland.
As reported by the Shields Gazette, Sammut is on trial at the North East club and featured for the reserves in their 3-1 Premier League Cup defeat to Stoke City on Monday. Whether he has done enough to earn a contract remains to be seen.
But if Sunderland do decide to sign the Scotland U21 international, what could they be getting? Well, maybe a long-term successor for Lee Cattermole.
A deep-lying midfielder, Sammut is not the sort of player who dominated the headlines, instead choosing to do the dirty work with minimal fuss. He is renowned for his ability to break down opposition attacks and is more than capable of starting ones of his own, blessed with an impressive and intelligent range of passing.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Now, Cattermole might have two years left on his Sunderland contract and has started 20 League One games this season, remaining a key figure under Jack Ross.
But he is also one of the club’s highest earners and, with owner Stewart Donald keen to cut costs, Sammut could be a younger, cheaper option in the centre of the park.
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