David Moyes has lavished praise on Sunderland’s academy products following a glittering international break.
Jordan Pickford and Lynden Gooch led the way receiving their maiden senior call-ups, with Gooch making his USA debut in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand in Washington, D.C.
Pickford, meanwhile, drank from a fountain of knowledge as he trained alongside the likes of Joe Hart and Fraser Forster as Gareth Southgate’s England drew 1-1 in Slovenia.
And speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stoke City, the Sunderland boss declared Sunderland as the place to be for young players aiming to forge a stellar reputation.
“It [injured players] gives young players an opportunity,” said Moyes. “Lynden Gooch made his debut for USA during the international break and Jordan Pickford went away with the England senior team.
“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.”
He continued: “If you’re a young player you’ve got a real chance of getting in the team.
“I’ve always been a great believer in young players because they’re going to be your future, so you need to make sure you have an academy which can produce them.
“Sunderland have had an academy which have – Jordan Henderson just captained England – so I want to inspire the young players and for them to think that it they come to Sunderland the manager might put them in the team.
“I have to use that as a motivation to the parents and the young players out there.”
The Black Cats boss also shared his thoughts on a return to domestic action with a contest at the Bet365 Stadium looming on the horizon.
“Our away form has been quite good – we were very close at Man City and ran Tottenham close – and when we went to Southampton we picked up a point, so we need to go to Stoke and feel like we can be hard to beat.
“We have to try and get going and find a way of getting some momentum to get us up and running; we’ve not been far away and we’re still not far away, so we have to make sure that we’re in there fighting all the way.”
