George Honeyman on his academy pride and why it is a business opportunity for Sunderland
Sunderland’s starting XI for the game featured six players aged 23 or under, with four of those having come through the system.
Honeyman says it is a vindication of the club’s investment in the academy.
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Hide AdHe said: “I remember those cold Monday nights at Eppleton, It’s all character-building.
“It makes you proud when there are a lot of young lads from the academy on the pitch at first-team level, and you win games like on Saturday.
“I am really pleased for the club and the academy, that it’s finally paying off.
“It’s a major investment and it’s a major part of the club.”
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Hide AdChris Coleman said shortly after his arrival that bringing through academy players was of a bigger benefit to buying players in, and Honeyman agrees that it is a massive opportunity for the club.
He said: “I agree. The club can see it as a business opportunity as well – look at Southampton and how many players they have brought through and sold on for incredible amounts of money.
“I’m a big fan of our academy, we have got loads of talent in it and there has been lots of talent come through it.
“I know the academy got a lot of stick for a while when there wasn’t any players in the first team, so there will be a lot of people at this club pleased to see us all on the pitch together.
“If that’s the way that club is going to go, I think we will be fine.”