Harrison Jones has named his three current and former Sunderland teammates who have given him plenty of ‘advice’.
Harrison Jones turns 20 years old this year and has enjoyed huge success as Sunderland U21s captain, but is still awaiting his first-team debut.
The midfielder has six goals and an assist in Premier League 2 this season, playing the full 90 minutes for their last eight games.
Jones is one of a number of academy players that have been tipped to make the step up to the first team before the end of the season, but unlike Tom Watson, he is yet to step foot on the pitch with the seniors.
The teenager was named on the bench for the first time as the Black Cats were beaten 4-2 by Southampton last month, before keeping his place in the squad against QPR.
Corry Evans gives ‘great’ advice
While he has since returned to the U21s, Jones continues to train with his elders and has named three current and former players who have taught him a lot.
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, Jones said: “The 21s are always integrated with the first team. Especially before games we’ll do shape work. Every minute with them on the pitch is a learning minute, obviously they are the next level which is what we are trying to get to. Being on the pitch at the same time as them and being able to pick up things, hopefully we can use it for our performances.”
He added: “For me directly, when we are doing shape work I’m mainly against Dan Neil and can’t get near him half the time.
“I’m picking up little things about how to follow him and how to mark him, what he does well so I can put that in my game.
“I had lots of mentorship off Pritch before he left and did some one-to-ones with Corry, who just gives great detail. Obviously he’s been in the game for years and years and is club captain so it’s great to get his advice.”
The importance of experience and leadership
Harrison Jones’ experience with the senior squad proves exactly how important having the experienced lads around is.
The likes of Corry Evans, Danny Batth and Alex Pritchard have acted as great mentors to the younger ones, and that is reflected in their performances for both the senior team and the U21s.
The latter two have left the club now and Evans has only recently returned, so those experienced heads will have been hugely missed in the dressing room and on the training pitch.
Dan Neil certainly isn’t a bad role model for Jones to look up to though, and if the 19-year-old can get anywhere near his fellow academy graduate then we will be in for a real treat.