Luke Molyneux played three League One games for Jack Ross’ Sunderland but he’ll now be starting for Hartlepool United in the National League.
Luke Molyneux has said that he hopes to prove Sunderland wrong after being released by the Wearside giants this summer while telling The Echo that he didn’t feel his departure was handled correctly.
Born in Bishop Auckland, the local lad had been part of The Black Cats’ famed academy system for five years and even made three first-team appearances during the 2018/19 season with Jack Ross expected to hand him further opportunities in the long-term.
But Molyneux was surprisingly let go when his contract expired earlier this month.
The 21-year-old winger didn’t have to wait long to be snapped up, however, returning to a Hartlepool United side whom he played 16 games for during a loan spell in the first half of the year.
And, speaking to The Echo, Molyneux has expressed plenty of disappointment about the way his time at Sunderland came to an end – while making it clear that he has his heart set on showing that they were wrong to write him off.
“It was hard to deal with for myself because I’m confident in my own ability and I was quite surprised that I wasn’t kept on there but I didn’t really hear much from Sunderland,” Molyneux claimed.
“I didn’t really get told much and while I was out on loan, I didn’t really feel involved at the club and it was obviously a lot different but I spoke to Jack Ross the day of the (contract) deadline but didn’t hear much from the owners or anything.
“It’s just about proving them (Sunderland) wrong now and I think this is definitely going to be an advantage for me and help me as a player.”
Former St Mirren boss Ross has given chances to a wide range of promising young talents since taking over at the Stadium of Light but Molyneux is not the only hotly-tipped youngster to be shown the door in the last few weeks.
Goalkeeper Max Stryjek has also been let go – a decision that really didn’t go down well with Sunderland supporters.
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