Sunderland seemingly have one of the best young goalkeepers in the Football League out on loan at Salford City this season, and Matty Young has been tipped for greatness.
Naturally, with Anthony Patterson between the sticks, there was very little option but to send Matty Young on loan this season.
Despite a difficult start to life at Salford, the Sunderland youngster has made quite the name for himself with his displays over the last two months.
Young is now one of the best in the EFL for various goalkeeping statistics, and though his impressive run of clean sheets came to an end against Manchester City in the FA Cup, he’s still got a very bright future ahead of him.
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Matty Young is showing similarities to Jordan Pickford
Speaking to Chronicle Live about the young goalkeeper he’s been lucky enough to get on loan this season, Salford City boss Karl Robinson played up Young’s credentials and insisted he is following the same path as Jordan Pickford before him.
He said: “His maturity, he’s just way above people of that age. He’s so controlling in his processes and the direction he wants to go in.
“Obviously, he’s coming from a football club that has produced [Jordan] Pickford and the current goalie [Anthony Patterson], who is doing really well. So he knows the flight path for himself and he’s very, very clear about that.”
Looking ahead to the future, Robinson tipped Young to have what it takes to be a success in the Sunderland first-team, adding: “I’ve stood on the touchline at the Stadium of Light… it is ruthless! If you want to play in a cauldron like that, you’ve got to be fearless.
“I think that’s why goalkeepers do so well coming from that area, because of the passion of the fans and how crazy they are for their support, they just learn to cope with it. Jordan [Pickford] is very similar, I think the way he’s brought up playing at Sunderland has massively had an influence. And Young is no different to that.”
Salford currently sit seventh in the League Two table, just inside the play-off places, and if they do eventually go up this year, Young’s form will surely be a major contributing factor.
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Does Matty Young have a role to play at Sunderland next season?
One thing’s for sure, Matty Young is destined for the very top, but it remains to be seen when (and if) he will get his big breakthrough at Sunderland.
It’s important that Regis Le Bris lays out a plan for Young come the end of the season, because he’s the kind of player Sunderland really need to keep hold of and nurture.
Manchester City have been linked with Young already, and more Premier League attention is sure to follow if he keeps up his current levels.
A lot will depend on Sunderland’s fate this season; if they go up, it’s hard to imagine Young being involved in the top flight as Patterson would likely stay put. However, if the Black Cats did miss out on promotion this term, there’s every chance that number one shirt could be vacated.