Elliott Dickman is hoping Sunderland under-18s’ experience of first-team training can help inspire his side throughout their 2016-17 U18 Premier League campaign.
With pre-season in the tail end of its third week, the young Black Cats were given the chance to test themselves against the club’s first-team players in training earlier this week.
Following three friendlies and a four-day intense training camp, Dickman’s side returned to Wearside last Friday to reap the rewards of a positive start to pre-season.
And as preparations for the new campaign continued ahead of Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, Dickman revealed first-team training has offered the lads a wealth of valuable tips.
“We had a good trip away and all the lads bonded well,” he said. “While some of them didn’t travel it was still a beneficial trip and all the lads trained well and integrated together.
“When we came back we got the chance to train with the first team so that was a great experience for some of the boys who are fresh out of school.
“It’s an amazing experience, especially for the lads who are mad Sunderland fans to play with Jermain Defoe is a fantastic experience,” he continued.
“That leads us into our Sheffield Wednesday game and hopefully we can take some tips from that experience and exercise them throughout this weekend's game and the coming season.”