Sunderland have a youth academy brimming with talent, but who are the three names that could step-up this season?
Sunderland has become a hotbed for exciting young talents over the past few years.
Tony Mowbray has a clear plan he has set out to implement with a load of youngsters who are regarded highly.
This has seen multiple break into the first team already such as Jobe Bellingham, but also a bunch on the verge after coming through the academy.
Here are three Sunderland prospects that should be promoted for the rest of the season.
Chris Rigg
The most obvious on the list, and one who has already dipped his toes into first-team football at the club, scoring in the Championship during Sunderland’s 5-0 thrashing of Southampton.
Chris Rigg is one of England’s finest young midfielders who is a regular for the England under-18’s.
Despite only turning 16 in June, Rigg has already made his debut, but we think he deserves more.
Clearly ready for the raised level, offering him first-team starts could be a way of keeping him amid interest from the likes of Manchester United.
Tom Watson
Tom Watson is another youngster who has came through the Black Cats academy in recent years.
Watson is yet to feature for the first-team however it is believed to be inevitable given Mowbray has been taking a close look at him according to The Sun.
Watson has joined Rigg in England’s under-18 set-up and at 17, many in the club believe he is a real talent.
With 1 goal and 1 assist in two youth league appearances this season – across both u18 and PL 2 – we envisage that he is close to getting a chance.
Jake Waters
The third on the list is 17-year-old forward Jake Waters. Waters has been extremely prolific in the u18 PL which saw him bag 14 goals and five assists in 27 games.
At 6’3, he is due to be a physically dominant striker and he is one which has got Sunderland staff excited since he signed his professional deal over the summer.
With Mason Burstow not firing on all cylinders, Waters should warrant an opportunity this season to impress Mowbray further.