Sunderland manager Mike Dodds has named one youngster who could be promoted to the first team this season.
Mike Dodds has so far been particularly stubborn with his team selections, rarely steering away from the senior team that has struggled for most of the campaign.
Fans called for Chris Rigg’s first start for months before he was eventually handed the opportunity against Leicester City, where he was ‘remarkable’.
The 16-year-old is the only academy player who has really been given a chance this season, despite a terrible run of form.
Sunderland now have nothing to play for though, as they sit 13 points below the play-off positions with only eight games to go.
With Dodds able to get a good look at his team over the international break and size up who is going to be able to make their mark on the final stretch, we could now see the coach play around with his team and give some youngsters some vital experience ahead of next season.
Sunderland could promote 17-year-old to senior team
Having caught the eye of supporters during the break, Dodds has now admitted that Tom Watson could be one player who gets the nod before the end of the season.
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, Dodds said: “”Tommy trained with us a couple of times over the international break and has done really, really well.
“I’ve had a conversation with him personally about where he fits, the things I think he does really well and the things I think he can improve on. He has real clarity on that. He’s definitely one I’m sure who will come into our thinking at some point, it probably won’t be this weekend but after that we’ll look to potentially integrate him into the group a little bit more.”
Tom Watson wowed supporters over the international break as he featured for the U21s against Leicester City last week.
The young winger ‘really impressed’ journalist James Copley, as he bagged an assist and took his tally to eight goal contributions in 12 games for the campaign.
Should Tom Watson be promoted?
Watson is clearly highly-rated at the Stadium of Light after making his senior debut almost a year ago, while he has also attracted interest from Rangers and several Premier League clubs previously.
Having been likened to Jack Clarke in the past, it definitely seems worth giving him a chance to stake his claim in the senior team.
He is only 17, but with none of our attackers particularly impressing in Clarke’s absence, Watson could be given a real opportunity to actually earn himself a spot in the senior squad going into next season.
Like Rigg, we also want to make sure he knows that he will get the chance to earn regular first team football on Wearside, rather than moving elsewhere and being stuck with the U21s.
