Sunderland fans have a new hero to hail after Tommy Watson’s heroics against Stoke City at the weekend, and the Black Cats’ production line isn’t finished there.
After a run of six games without a win, Sunderland simply had to put a stop to the rot against Stoke, and they duly delivered.
Naturally, it was a team effort to get across the line and seal the three points for Regis Le Bris’ side, but Sunderland fans rightly heaped praise on Tommy Watson for his role in the win.
His performance, and indeed the two goals to win the game, were mightily impressive, but more than that, Tommy Watson has now well and truly opened the door for more Sunderland academy youngsters to succeed.
Trey Ogunsuyi is next in line for Sunderland success under Regis Le Bris
Le Bris has been very clear about his intentions to develop Sunderland’s young players rather than dipping into the transfer market for new talent.
With the likes of Chris Rigg, Anthony Patterson, and Dan Neil, this Sunderland side is flooded with academy graduates, and Watson has now firmly established himself as the latest in that list.
Le Bris stuck by Watson after fans criticised him for being ‘wasteful’ against West Brom just a couple of weeks ago, and he’s proven that patience with these teenage talents is the right way to go.
It’s also clear that young players will continue to be given opportunities by the Frenchman, and the success of Tommy Watson can only be a good thing for the next prodigy waiting in the wing: Trey Ogunsuyi.
The 19-year-old striker is on fire for the Under-21 team this season, with 13 goals already to his name, and he’s been on the bench for the senior side a handful of times, too.
While he’s not been given a proper taste of first-team football yet, that must surely be only a matter of time now.
FA Cup tie against Stoke City would be perfect for Ogunsuyi opportunity
With Sunderland deep in a battle for promotion, it’s understandable that Le Bris hasn’t taken the plunge on Ogunsuyi just yet. But, with Wilson Isidor now without a goal in four games, the gamble could be worth taking very soon.
At the very least, one would assume that Sunderland’s FA Cup tie against Stoke City in January would be the ideal time to give Ogunsuyi his big chance.
Le Bris spoke about how ‘important’ Watson’s successful rise has been for the club, and that can only mean that his pathway to the first-team can be replicated again for other players.
In a cup tie that will, truth be told, mean very little to Sunderland (and Stoke, for that matter), there can be no reason not to play Ogunsuyi from the start and let the youngster prove his massive potential.