SAFC round-up: Ex-Chelsea defender Ashley Akpan training with Sunderland as former Black Cats ace Jermain Defoe hits career milestone at Rangers

The 16-year-old defender has been searching for a new club since turning down a scholarship offer from the Blues in the summer.

Akpan has been training with Sunderland’s youth team in recent weeks and started in the 5-0 loss to Manchester City in the Under-18s Premier League North last Saturday. The defender lasted around an hour before being substituted in the heavy defeat in Manchester.

According to Allnigeriasoccer.com, Akpan has been at the Academy of Light looking to secure a contract.

The Polish-born defender – who is also eligible to represent Nigeria through his father as well as England at international level – spent six years as part of Chelsea’s youth set-up before leaving in the summer.

Sunderland’s under-18 side currently sit bottom of the league with just one point from their opening seven games.

Elsewhere, Sunderland favourite Jermain Defoe hit another career landmark over the weekend as he marked his 800th appearance in senior football with a goal for Rangers in their 4-0 win at Ross County on Sunday.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard said afterwards: "It wouldn't surprise me if he went on to 900! He is in incredible shape and he loves coming into work and he is still trying to learn and improve and get better.

“He is ready at any given moment and you can see that he is hungry to get on the pitch and you can tell by his performances he is still hungry to score goals.”

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