Inside Jack Diamond's long-awaited Sunderland debut and the key moments that showcased his potential

Having knocked on the door for much of the season, with some impressive performances in the EFL Trophy, Jack Diamond was finally handed a chance to shine in League One.

His debut from the bench came in circumstances which will have been far from ideal for both player and club – with the 20-year-old called from the bench after a concerning early injury to Jordan Willis.

But for Diamond, it was a chance – an opportunity to show that he was ready for regular action in League One.

For while the academy graduate has impressed in those cup outings – drawing praise from Phil Parkinson after his goal against Carlisle last week – League One is a different proposition entirely.

On the basis of this showing, however, Diamond is more than ready to deal with the rigmarole of the third tier,

There were the odd sloppy moment, of course. A mis-placed pass here and a rushed clearance there, but you’d be hard-pushed to find a young player for whom that isn't the case.

Diamond’s positives certainly outweighed those minor negatives, though. Indeed, there were a few moments that emphasised the different dimension he could bring to this Sunderland side.

In the first-half, shortly after his introduction, he embarked on a promising solo run which could have yielded more than it did. Having cut in from the right, Diamond rode a couple of challenges before looking to move the ball to the opposite flank.

It was a moment of creativity that – in any normal season – would have had fans off their seats, and that direct nature is something that has perhaps been lacking in recent months at the Stadium of Light.

But perhaps Diamond’s biggest involvement came at the other end.

As Swindon enjoyed a strong spell of pressure at the start of the season half, Diamond did well to win back possession on the edge of the area before kick-starting the attack that eld to the Black Cats’ second goal.

It killed off any hopes of a home comeback, and was a key moment in the game.

And while a big moment for Sunderland as a collective, it also showed that Diamond is becoming more comfortable with the defensive side of his game – something which will be key given that Parkinson seems to see his future in the wing-back position.

The big question now is whether Diamond can build on this positive performance and make such first-team involvement a regular occurrence.

Given Tom Flanagan’s imminent return from suspension, and the performance of Conor McLaughlin at the County Ground, it would be a surprise to see Diamond handed a start against Crewe on Tuesday evening.

But with the fixture schedule hectic, to say the least, in the coming weeks, don’t rule out more chances for Diamond over the remainder of the month.

Those opportunities may well come from the bench, but the youngster has proven he can make an impact when required – both going forward, and at the back.

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