Lee Johnson hails this 'bright and busy' Sunderland youngster who has made a first-team impact

The former Middlesbrough striker, who joined the Black Cats’ in the summer on a free transfer, came off the bench to make his senior debut in the 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon in midweek.

It came just over 24 hours after the 21-year-old netted a brace in Sunderland under-23’s 3-1 win over Norwich City in Premier League 2 – as he took his tally for the season to seven goals in ten games.

And such fine form saw Curry rewarded with a place on the bench for the game with the Dons, before being introduced as a second half substitute as the Black Cats chased the game.

His inclusion was due to the depleted nature of Sunderland’s squad, but Johnson was quick to praise both the attitude and application of the youngster, whom he says shows exactly what he craves from young players.

"I'm sure he’d have wanted it to be in front of a packed Stadium of Light, but a debut is a debut,” said the head coach, speaking to safc.com.

"He was very, very happy to play, very keen to play.

"He scored two on Monday so you think ‘go on then, sling the young lad on and see what he can do.’

"I thought he was bright and busy, we didn’t quite feed him enough, but he gave everything he had in that spell.

"That’s what we want from our young players.”

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