safc.com’s Sam Lightle catches up with Sunderland under-18s boss Mark Atkinson about pre-season, development and of course, the new campaign.
Mark, welcome back for another season, the Lads have been back just over a week now how have the preparations gone so far?
“It has been good to be back and the lads have had a good break. During their time off they get their own programmes to carry on with which means they come back in decent shape and at a good standard. Obviously, this week has been great to get on the grass, the balls have been out throughout the week - that has been pleasing really. A big part of pre-season in the first couple of weeks is trying to get the first and second years as one team and that’s what we have got to work on between now and the start of the season.
Just how important are these initial days and weeks of pre-season?
“The thing that has impressed me the most last week was the togetherness of the group. Some of the sessions we put on for them were physically and mentally tough. Credit to the group, though, because they got themselves through it together and already we are starting to see a bit of a team spirit form. That’s beginning to evolve and that’s vital because, like last year, it is a tough season and the standard of play is always going to be very good. It is a good standard and it’s important that we get that togetherness embedded in the players as soon as possible.”
A number of second-year scholars got the chance to go away with the unde-23s to Austria – great for their development?
“Yes, absolutely! It was planned during the off-season that Benji Kimpioka, Jake Hackett and Jack Diamond were probably ready for that next challenge. The three of them went over and the feedback has been positive. It is right for those three lads and now it is up to them to prove themselves that they are good enough to be there.”
It is that time of year where targets are set – what are yours for the season?
“We shouldn’t be judged on results. I believe we should be judged on how many players we can progress through. Last year was a massive bonus in terms of the three lads (Elliot Embleton, Joel Asoro and Josh Maja) who were up with the under-23s. They didn’t just have development there because they also had first-team exposure and that’s great. It was a tough season in terms of the results but when you look at the individual development it was massive. It is the same again this year and hopefully that is what we can be judged on.”