Former Sunderland youngster earns first international call after strong start to life at Manchester United

The 16-year-old has been selected by England U18s to take part in a development camp at the national team base, St George’s Park.

With no games scheduled this month, the squad will be in-situ at the national football centre for six days to work on the training pitch.

Former Black Cats youngster Sam Greenwood is in the U19 squad after his hat-trick at the Academy of Light earlier this week.

Hugill moved to Manchester United earlier this summer after a superb campaign on Wearside, in which he had been fast-tracked into the U23 set-up.

The young striker caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs but opted to make the move to Old Trafford, with Sunderland agreeing a six-figure compensation package.

His international call is the latest step in his strong start to life in the north west.

The inside story of Joe Hugill’s Manchester United move

Hugill has scored three goals in two appearances for the U18 side, and was called up to lead the line against Rochdale in the EFL Trophy earlier this week, hitting the woodwork twice and scoring a crucial penalty in a shootout win.

Logan Pye, who was also sold to Manchester United earlier in the summer, also started that game.

Both game in for praise from lead coach Mike Wood: “We've got some young lads - I thought Joe Hugill was brilliant up front, Logan Pye had his first game for the Under-23s, and they're learning during games, before games and after games, at the moment,” he said.

"It's another bit of experience that goes into their development and they gave a good account of themselves.”

Speaking earlier this summer, Sunderland CEO Jim Rodwell said that talent retention would be a crucial part of the remit for the new Academy Manager.

That position remains vacant after Paul Reid’s departure earlier in the summer.

The Black Cats did receive a welcome boost earlier this week, when Dan Neil signed a three-year professional contract to extend his stay at the club.

Neil had been the subject of serious transfer interest from Premier League clubs but told Phil Parkinson he wanted to prove himself on Wearside before excelling in the pre-season campaign.

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