Former Sunderland man Danny Collins was impressed with this one player after the draw vs Middlesbrough last Sunday.
Sunderland headed to Middlesbrough last Sunday, where Michael Beale‘s side eventually left with a point after a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the Tees-Wear derby.
The point leaves the Black Cats in 8th place of the table and one point outside the top six, after two games unbeaten under Beale.
But the 43-year-old will be buoyed by his side’s late activity in the transfer market; despite not signing a new striker, Sunderland brought in all of Romaine Mundle, Callum Styles, and Leo Hjelde.
The latter made his debut vs Middlesbrough too, and he managed to impress.
Danny Collins impressed by Leo Hjelde Sunderland debut vs Middlesbrough
In the Sunderland post-match show vs Middlesbrough, former Sunderland defender Danny Collins gave his verdict on Hjelde, who played the full 90 minutes at left-back.
Collins said:
“He showed some good moments [on Sunday]. I think there is a player in there. It is going to take him time to find his feet really and his full fitness. But yes some good moments in the game for him to be honest.”
Hjelde, 20, was brought to Elland Road from Ross County in 2021. He spent a lot of time with Leeds’ youth sides and left with just three league appearances to his name, and 13 Championship appearances during a loan spell with Rotherham United last season.
Beale may have found long-term answer to left-back issue
Sunderland needed a left-back in the January transfer window after injuries to Dennis Cirkin and Niall Huggins.
Both are very capable and so too is Hjelde, who rose through the Leeds ranks alongside Huggins, though it looks like Hjelde now has a chance to imprint his name on the starting XI.
Then when the likes of Cirkin and Huggins are back, it’ll give Beale a problem, albeit a nice one, as he’ll have three very good left-backs to choose from; all of whom are younger players too.
It could be bad news for the likes of Cirkin who’s had a very stop-start year or so, or it could mean that one of Huggins or Cirkin follows in the footsteps of names Luke O’Nien and Trai Hume and become makeshift centre-backs.
But Hjelde can take a lot of positives form his debut and Beale will be pleased how he fared after being thrown in at the deep end v Middlesbrough.
Up next for Sunderland is a home game vs Plymouth Argyle this weekend.