Mike Dodds has admitted that one of Sunderland’s brightest youngsters could become a starter next season.
Sunderland have enjoyed great success with their academy over the years, with Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson both progressing from Wearside to the World Cup in the last decade.
The Black Cats have also had success with the likes of Lynden Gooch, George Honeyman and Josh Maja who have all left the club for fees, while their promotion to the Championship has seen a number of stars really shine.
Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil and Chris Rigg have been lighting up the second tier this term, with all three having been linked with a move to the Premier League due to their excellent form.
The former currently feels like the most likely to leave this summer, with the goalkeeper attracting interest from Liverpool, Celtic and Leeds United.
Sunderland have been known to bring through some really talented ‘keepers and that certainly won’t stop at Patterson, with Matty Young also extremely highly-rated at the Academy of Light.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant loan spell with Darlington FC in the second half of the season, conceding only ten goals in 13 starts as he helped them avoid relegation.
Young was also named their Young Player of the Year and has been tipped for big things upon his return to Sunderland.
Despite still waiting for his professional debut for his boyhood club, Mike Dodds has admitted that Sunderland ‘will not be scared’ to bring him into the first team next season.
Matty Young could replace Anthony Patterson
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, Dodds said: “Can Matty [Young] come back and challenge for a first-team goalkeeping spot next season? Yeah, why not? Chris Rigg is a first-year scholar, and I’ve played him against Southampton, Leicester and Leeds this season.
“I know people might say that the goalkeeping position is a bit different, but the ball is always in the player’s court. If he comes back and is unbelievable, then one thing that this football club has shown is that under this model and this ownership, they will give young players opportunities and will not be scared of that. If he comes back, and he’s better than the current number one, whether that be Patto [Anthony Patterson] or whoever, then he’ll get an opportunity to play. If that opportunity is not there, then maybe it’ll be a case of looking at another loan.
“I understand the argument that goalkeepers can be hard debuts to give just because of the nature of the position or the pitch. But if you’re asking me from a personal perspective, then if I felt Matty was ready, psychologically and mentally to play at the Stadium of Light as a 17-year-old or 18-year-old, I wouldn’t have any qualms at all about playing him.
“The ball’s in his court,” Dodds added.
“It depends on how good he is when he comes back in the summer, but he’s a wonderful player, and I think Matty Young has got a real chance. I think he could go all the way to the top, but like all young players, that’ll ultimately be dependent on how he manages his head.”
Should we loan the 17-year-old back out this summer?
Matty Young is arguably more highly rated than Anthony Patterson was at his age, while the 23-year-old only established himself as the Black Cats’ regular a couple of years ago.
Young definitely shouldn’t be thrown in at the deep end at such a young age as I think there probably is a lot more pressure on a goalkeeper making his debut than there would be elsewhere on the pitch.
However, I would be fond of the idea of Young becoming our second-choice goalkeeper next season if we were able to bring in a more experienced replacement for Patterson – if he leaves.
The teenager would appreciate someone with bags of experience and leadership to help guide him through his first ‘proper’ season on Wearside, while he would be able to chip in with appearances here and there.
The only problem then is that he wouldn’t be earning vital minutes on the pitch like he really needs. It is difficult to get a good balance.
If Patterson does stay though, I would like to see Young head back out on loan.
Either way, it seems very much a guarantee that he will be worming his way into the starting line-up over the next few years one way or another.