A potential move to Sunderland is a ‘good opportunity’ for Herediano youngster Jewison Bennette, former Costa Rica international Roy Miller tells Aquiii Columbia while tipping the winger to adapt to a physical and fast-paced Championship.
Now, it’s probably not unfair to assume that Jewison Bennette was not a name on the radar of many Sunderland fans at the start of the window.
But with the Black Cats reportedly closing in on a £1 million deal, while signing the 18-year-old whizzkid on a four-year deal, Bennette will not be a mystery figure much longer on the banks of the Wear.
A tricky, left-footed left winger, Bennette recently became Costa Rica’s youngest ever player, and now has six caps for his country. The teenager has also scored twice while providing one assist in just four league games for Herediano so far this season.
And Sunderland, according to former Costa Rica international Miller, could be the making of a player looking to follow in the footsteps of Bryan Oviedo at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland could sign exciting Jewison Bennette
“It’s a good opportunity for Bennette,” says Miller, who played against England in the 2014 World Cup.
“What he has shown has been good. You can see that he is focused, he has a mentor in his father who has already played (at a professional level).
“You can think that the English league is physical, with physical players. It remains for him to demonstrate (his abilities), just as he has demonstrated them with the national team, with his club team.
“Although there are very tall, physical players there, that does not mean that it will not go well for him. Hopefully he can take advantage of the opportunity.”
Fellow Costa Rican starlet Brandon Aguilera has already moved to England this summer. He joined Nottingham Forest from LD Alajuelense, before returning to Central America on loan. It remains to be seen if Bennette will immediately be included in Sunderland’s first-team plans. Or whether he too will spend 2022/23 out on loan
“He is probably most comfortable playing out wide in a 4-3-3. His main strength is in taking defenders on when one v one,” Costa Rican reporter Kevin Jimenez tells Roker Report.
“Can he adapt, and how quickly? There is no doubt he is a smaller winger who relies on speed and technique versus strength and power. So we shall see.
“The talent is there, but it will be up to him adaptation-wise, and for Sunderland to properly develop him. So it is hard to say right now (whether he will succeed).”
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