Elliott Dickman isn’t happy with results so far this season but has highlighted the ever-growing link between the under-23s and first-team.
Sunderland’s young guns kick start their Premier League Cup campaign this evening when Charlton Athletic come to town, kick-off 7pm.
With changes likely, due to the first-team’s involvement in the Checkatrade Trophy tomorrow night, Dickman has told safc.com he is pleased to see so many academy players being given their chances so far this season.
Benji Kimpioka featured for the under-23s last Monday against Aston Villa before making us league debut 24 hours later at the Stadium of Light as the Lads drew with Peterborough United.
And while results have been hard to come by for the development team, Dickman has echoed the need to support the first-team’s needs in whatever way that is.
“The academy manager has been pushing the lads,” he said.
“There are a lot of people in the football club who support what we do and believe in what we are doing.
“They are very keen to make sure there are individuals who come through it.
“Of course, we are happy with results but at the same time our job is to get the next crop of young players that we have done really well as a whole academy to produce ready.
“We don’t want to get beat every week but the fact we have got an average of five academy players in the first-team squad every matchday speaks volumes for the work that goes on.”
