'I can't wait' - Sunderland starlet opens up on achieving 'unbelievable' career milestone

Sunderland starlet Finn Geragusian has admitted that receiving his first senior call-up for the Armenian national team feels “unbelievable” as he continues his impressive development at the Academy of Light.

The teenager has been in fine form this season, averaging a goal every other game across 26 appearances for the U18s and U21s, and has subsequently been rewarded for his efforts with a nod from national team head coach Yeghishe Melikyan.

And in a fresh interview with Sunderland’s in-house media team, expressed his delight at making the step up to international level. He said: “It's unbelievable, just a great feeling to get that call up and then it'll be a great experience when I go there to represent my country and my family, I'm really proud and I can't wait to have a new experience with the coaches and the new team and it'll bring different attributes to my game.”

Geragusian also reflected on his recent involvement in a couple of Regis Le Bris’ first team matchday squads, with the young forward travelling for FA Cup clashes against Oxford United and Port Vale.

He continued: “It's been a great experience, I'm really pleased with how it went and I'm happy that they've given me that opportunity to be on the bench with the first team and experience travelling down with them, training with them and how the matchday looks and hopefully in the future I'll be able to get on the pitch and show what I'm capable of.”

Next week, Geragusian will be part of the squad that faces Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, and the attacker has suggested that he and his teammates are more than ready for the looming challenge.

He said: “The lads are definitely up for it and we're all ready to go and it's going to be a big game at Old Trafford to get us into the semi-finals and we're all going to give our everything for that and just beat them. We're having a great run at the minute, all the lads have all stuck together really well, we've all encouraged each other and we've had each other's backs throughout the whole time and that's something we're going to take to Man United, which will help us beat them.”

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What else has been said about Finn Geragusian’s international call-up?

For his part, Armenia boss Melikyan has explained the thinking behind handing Geragusian a first senior international call-up before he has even made his first team debut at club level, stating: “I called Finn up to see what he is capable of in senior football and to evaluate his future in the national team. He has good qualities and is the type of striker I need. But he is still very young, has not played at senior level and is not ready for the national team yet.

“We are calling him up to help with that transition and give him a push in his development. At the moment we have a huge problem in the attacking line, so I am looking at every possible option. I’m not very satisfied with the strikers we currently have. Araik Eloyan, for example, needs to improve a lot if he wants to play for the national team.”

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