Elliott Dickman believes there is still plenty of room for Joel Asoro to improve in the wake of his European Golden Boy nomination.
The young star has been shortlisted for the accolade along with thirteen other Premier League bright sparks, including Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Everton’s Tom Davies.
Conducted by Italian publication Tuttosport, the winner – who was once Paul Pogba and five-time Fifa Ballon D'or winner Lionel Messi - is voted for by journalists across Europe.
Asoro, 17, made his Premier League bow in August at home to Middlesbrough and was then later utilised in cup games against Shrewsbury Town, Queens Park Rangers and Burnley.
The young Swede has featured prominently for Sunderland’s under-23s this term, netting six times in all competitions including a match-winning strike at Norwich City which sent the Lads into the International Cup final.
"What Joel has got is natural pace,” Dickman said.
“He’s good at controlling the ball and the fact that he’s 17 and he’s in the U23’s squad says that the Swedish coach thinks very highly of him, so that’s a great achievement for him.
“But Joel still has a lot to develop and finishing would be one of those areas.
“He knows that and is working on it."
