Sunderland could look to their acadmey for first-team players this season.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Sunderland boss David Moyes has singled out Jordan Pickford and Lynden Gooch when praising the club’s academy as he looks to bring through young talent in to the first-team, the club’s official website reports.
The former Everton boss has endured a tough start to life as Sunderland manager, picking up just two points from his opening seven matches as the Black Cats currently sit bottom of the Premier League table.
Problems started for Moyes during the summer as the club missed out on key transfer targets, and their ensuing winless start to the campaign has seemingly drained confidence out of the players.
England’s Jordan Pickford during training
Sunderland face a tough ask in staying up this season, and Moyes has suggested he may now turn to the academy to help bring in some fresh impetus and some much-needed energy.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the 53-year-old was full of praise for the Wearside club’s academy and pointed to Pickford and Gooch’s international success when talking up first-team opportunities.
“It [injured players] gives young players an opportunity. Lynden Gooch made his debut for USA during the international break and Jordan Pickford went away with the England senior team,” Moyes told safc.com.
“If there are any young players out there looking for a game, we’re putting them in the team and giving them a chance to become international players so that’s a positive of being at Sunderland.”
“If you’re a young player you’ve got a real chance of getting in the team.
Sunderland’s Lynden Gooch in action with Southampton’s Matt Targett
Pickford, 22, made his Premier League debut with Sunderland last season under former boss Sam Allardyce and was quickly rewarded with a new contract until 2020.
Gooch, 20, joined Sunderland’s academy as a teenager and went on to make his first-team debut in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the season opener.
The US international has since made four league starts for the Black Cats, and his emergence as a first-team regular is arguably one of only a few bright moments in an otherwise gloomy period on Wearside.
General view – Stadium of Light Sunderland
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
