The FA Cup defeat to Stoke City last weekend did have some silver linings, with Harrison Jones’ full debut being one of them.
Sunderland were always going to focus more on the league than the cup in this second half of the season, as Regis Le Bris’ side chase promotion.
This FA Cup exit is not the end of the world, then, with the Black Cats now free to put all their attention on Championship duty. But, the game also gave Le Bris the chance to hand minutes to younger players in his squad.
Harrison Jones was the main benefactor of that, getting his first start for Sunderland and playing 79 minutes of the game.
Dan Neil was a calming presence for Harrison Jones
Jones was very solid on his full debut for Sunderland, impressing many as part of a midfield three alongside Dan Neil and Chris Rigg.
Speaking to the club’s official website after the game, Jones discussed the feeling of making his first start for his boyhood club and highlighted one teammate who helped him the most during the game.
He said: “I am delighted to get the opportunity, it’s surreal. Any Sunderland supporter growing up wants to play at the Stadium of Light, it’s a dream come true. I felt I did okay, but I still have plenty to learn.
“The messages before the game were to win the second balls, keep calm in possession and enjoy the moment. Dan’s calming voice helped me make the right decisions. He’s a proper leader. I am really grateful for everyone’s backing. The rest of the lads have been really good to me since I started training with them.”
After lining up alongside two fellow Sunderland academy graduates, Jones also touched on the club’s propensity to promote from within, and what his next steps are.
“You can see from the amount of young players that there is a clear pathway,” he added. “I know this is just the start. I want to keep working to earn the trust of all the coaches. Playing in front of the supporters is everything I’ve dreamed of so I want make sure that this isn’t just a one off.”
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Has Harrison Jones done enough to stay at Sunderland this month?
Jones has taken a big step in making his full debut for Sunderland, but his immediate future is still very unclear.
A loan move has been mooted for Jones until the end of the current campaign, with the player himself even suggesting he would be happy to go out and get experience in the short-term.
Indeed, it is hard to imagine Jones being given his Championship debut at any point in this backend of the season, given what Sunderland are fighting for and the immense competition for places in the Black Cats’ midfield.
With the signing of Enzo Le Fee, that midfield area just got even more stacked, and Jones would benefit far more from regular game time at senior level rather than merely turning out for the Under-21 side over the next five months.