Jack Diamond made his first-team debut for Sunderland last Tuesday, but Elliott Dickman has admitted the hard work has only just started for him.
The winger came on for Aiden McGeady last week as the Black Cats brushed aside Carlisle United 3-1 in their group A Checkatrade Trophy tie at the Stadium of Light.
Fellow youngster Benji Kimpioka marked his first start with a goal before fellow academy products Ethan Robson and - now club captain – George Honeyman bagged the third.
But speaking ahead of the Lads’ Premier League 2 trip to Manchester United tonight, kick-off 7pm at Leigh Sports Village, Dickman has admitted Diamond is well aware of the work still needed.
“We have plenty of conversations both as a group and with individual players and as long as we can see them developing, that’s the main thing,” he said.
“Jack Diamond is a good example, we’re asking him to improve his end product and his goal was a great example and he deserved it.
“We talk to Jack a lot about his end product and to be fair to him he is listening,” he continued.
“He has gone out there and done it, it was a really good strike (last time out).”
“Hopefully, he wants more of that. It is a learning environment for him and the other lads.”
