Sunderland academy forward Ethan Moore has joined National League neighbours Gateshead on loan.

Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore is keen to move on from ‘a tough two years’ after securing a loan move to National League neighbours Gateshead.

The Academy of Light product enjoyed a prolific campaign for the Black Cats Under-18s during the 2022/23 season as he netted eight times and provided three assists in 20 appearances in all competitions. After progressing into the Under-21s setup and grabbing a goal and two assists in a 7-5 defeat against Middlesbrough in January 2023, Moore suffered a serious knee injury just two months later and spent the next two and a half years undertaking a painstaking recovery and rehabilitation process.

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The long road back to fitness finally came to an end in August last year when Moore came off the bench to replace Felix Scott during the final half-hour of a Premier League 2 defeat against Southampton and that was the first of 18 appearances across all competitions this season. The Black Cats youngster got a first look at his new team-mates in October as the Heed claimed a penalty shoot-out win over Sunderland Under-21s in a National League Cup tie.

With his injury nightmare now firmly behind him, Moore is fully focused on impressing during the first loan stint of his career and is hoping to gain confidence as he embarks on a spell at the International Stadium.

He said: “I am really happy to be here. I came in last week, did some bits with the lads, really enjoyed it, and I think it’s a really good standard. I’ve had quite a tough two years with football but I think coming here will be a good challenge for me as a person and a player as well. I am really looking forward to it. It’s what I need most at the minute, getting that run of games under my belt, it gives me much more confidence to produce what I can.”

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Gateshead interim manager Rob Elliot (photo Charlie Waugh) | Charlie Waugh

Moore will face a wait to make his Heed debut after Saturday’s home game against Wealdstone was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and an FA Trophy defeat against Morecambe means Rob Elliot’s side are without a game next weekend. That means the versatile forward will not make his senior debut until Gateshead host Braintree Town at the International Stadium in two weeks time. However, the 21-year-old has given an insight into his talks with former Newcastle United goalkeeper Elliot and expressed his determination to use the next fortnight to become familiar with his new team-mates.

He said: “Rob spoke to me, he thinks I have good traits that will really help the team,” explained the Black Cats youngster. “Pace, power, he thinks I can bring that to the team and that might be what they are lacking at the minute. It’s a really good challenge for myself playing against older lads who have much more experience and I think with the lads in the changing room, it will give me a big boost and it will help me out a lot.”

“I can’t wait, I love playing football, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do so I think going out there will be good for me. Trying to understand how the lads play, what other player want, how they want to receive the ball and how they will give me the ball is what we will bring into the game.”

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