Andy Welsh is relishing the opportunity to put Sunderland’s new-look development side through a more technical test this Saturday as preparations for the 2016-17 U21 Premier League season hot up.
The young Black Cats travel to Hearts tomorrow keen to build on the positives from Tuesday night’s pre-season curtain-raiser at Seaham Red Star.
With nine of the under-21s players away at the first-team’s training camp in Austria, that has presented a number of under-18 regulars with an opportunity to step-up and stake their claim ahead of the new season.
Speaking to safc.com Welsh shared his pleasure over welcoming the fresh faces into his squad and is looking forward to seeing how they react to a different kind of test this weekend.
“We will be fitter and stronger for Saturday as everyone has had 45 minutes in their legs,” he said.
“It will probably be a technically tougher test than Seaham was because that game was more about getting players used to the physical aspects.
“We are looking forward to it and we will see what develops. We played Elliot Embleton and he is a technically gifted player who likes to get on the ball and make things happen.
“We are looking forward to welcoming him into the under-21s group this year,” he continued. “We have nine away with the first-team in Austria and that is fantastic. It has also allowed us to introduce the younger ones; Dan Pybus, Embleton, Brandon Taylor and Alex Storey to the team.
“It’s all about them learning and developing and the game against Seaham will help them prepare for the Hearts test.”
