Mark Atkinson reserved a special mention to free scoring Lee Connelly following his hat-trick over West Ham United.
Connelly’s hat-trick sparked Sunderland to complete a deserved win over the Hammer’s in the U18 Premier League Cup tie at the Academy of Light.
Kordey Henry levelled after Connelly had headed home Kane Evans cross. Connelly then struck twice in three minutes as the lads gained a two-goal cushion.
Substitute Louis Watson pulled one back for West Ham late on, but Connelly’s hat-trick had done the damage.
“He scored a lot of goals last year but he went period without scoring,” he said.
“What Lee is doing a lot better now is he is contributing in games. Last year when he wasn’t scoring he might not contribute too much but now he is showing much more.
“It is pleasing because you need that sometimes to help you get through bad patches.
“He is buying into it and seeing why it is so important to contribute more than just goals.
“Lee’s next step will be the under-23s if he gets that chance and that is something he has got to strive for,” he continued.
“He has had a little taste of it against Annfield Plain and in a few friendlies and he has got to keep striving to do it.”