Sunderland U21s face Burnley in the Premier League Cup final on Thursday night at 7pm at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland U21 midfielder Jaydon Jones says the young Black Cats are confident they can finish the season with silverware as they prepare to face Burnley in the Premier League Cup final.

Graeme Murty’s side welcome the Clarets to the Stadium of Light on Thursday night, with Sunderland aiming to win the competition for the first time. The U21s have enjoyed an impressive cup run and now have the chance to end the campaign with a trophy on home soil.

Jones has been a regular throughout Sunderland’s route to the final and has played in every game of the competition so far. The 19-year-old believes the squad can take confidence from their previous meeting with Burnley this season, when Sunderland produced an excellent performance to win 3-0 in the league back in September.

Asked about the mood in the camp ahead of the final, Jones said: “We’re feeling very confident. “Obviously, we’ve played them already this season in the league - and it was a really good team performance. We’re going to try to replicate that performance, and it should hopefully bring us the trophy.”

Jones has enjoyed a strong season at U21 level, cementing his place in Murty’s side and also earning involvement with Régis Le Bris’ first-team squad. The midfielder was named on the bench for Sunderland’s Premier League fixture against Brighton, giving him a taste of the senior matchday environment.

Reflecting on his campaign, Jones said: “I think that I’ve made steady progress throughout the season. It’s been great to continue to develop with the U21s - and I’ve got to appear once on the bench in the Premier League. That was a really good experience - and I think it would be the perfect season if I could top it off with a bit of silverware.”

Sunderland have placed major emphasis on their academy pathway in recent seasons, and the club’s return to the Premier League has made the challenge even greater for young players hoping to break into the first team. Even so, several U21 players have been around Le Bris’ group this season, while Murty’s side have continued to make progress at academy level.

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For Jones, winning the Premier League Cup would be a major statement for the group and another sign of the work being done at the Academy of Light. Asked what lifting the trophy would mean, Jones said: “For the club, it’d be unbelievable. We’re a club built on young players coming through and developing them, and to win the Premier League Cup would show that it’s all working. On a personal level, there would be nothing better than winning a trophy in our last game of the season.”

Sunderland will be unable to call on striker Finn Geragusian for the final against Burnley, with the forward set to miss out through a muscle injury. Timur Tutierov and Trey Ogunsuyi are also ineligible for the fixture, having both spent time out on loan in the EFL this season with Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town, respectively. The PL2 final kicks off at 7pm at the Stadium of Light on Thursday, with season ticket holders able to attend for free.

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