Benji Kimpioka takes his latest chance to impress Phil Parkinson during Sunderland U23 win

Elliott Dickman's side ran out 3-1 winners in a friendly against Sheffield United at the Academy of Light.

It was another positive result for the youngsters, who registered their first league win in well over a year with a 4-0 rout of Newcastle United in Premier League 2 last week.

That had been Kimpioka's first game since finally signing a new contract to stay at the club, and he had scored twice in that contest, too.

The Swedish striker opened the scoring with a fine side-footed finish early in the first half, before left wing-back Cieran Dunne doubled the lead direct from a corner just before half time.

Dunne was another player on the scoresheet last week.

Kimpioka added to his tally after the game after racing free of the visiting defence, who scored a late consolation after a period of sustained pressure.

It has been the perfect (albeit belated) start to the campaign for Kimpioka, heeding Parkinson's message to focus on impressing in the U23 set-up.

Speaking after he signed a new one-year deal (with the option of a year extension), Parkinson said: “Benji, now, needs to let his football do the talking.

“He's got to get his head down, concentrate on training every day to see if he can push himself into the first-team picture.

“I just want him to be grounded and ultimately, when you talk to Benji one-on-one, he is. To understand that he's got a contract and it's a great honour to have a professional contract at Sunderland football club.

“Now he's got to justify the fact that we've given him that.

“Benji is a decent lad, and now he's got to concentrate on playing football.”

Parkinson had rewarded some of the U23s for their win last week with the chance to step up and train with the senior group, having promised to create stronger links between the two groups this season.

Sunderland XI: Patterson; Wombwell, Taylor, Wilding, Almond, Younger, Dunne, Trialist, Hawkes, Trialist, Kimpioka

Subs used: Curry, Harris, Beaumont, Taylor, Wearne

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