Sunderland loanee Matty Young has impressed during his stint with Huddersfield Town.

Former Northern Ireland striker Conor Washington has argued that Sunderland starlet Matty Young is on the “right trajectory” to succeed in the Premier League as his career progresses.

Having spent two years with Salford City, the emerging talent signed for Huddersfield Town on loan this summer, and has since made an impressive impact in League One, keeping four clean sheets in 13 EFL outings for the table-topping Terriers.

And according to Washington, there is no reason why the teenager can’t kick on to shine in the top flight of English football. Speaking to The Echo, courtesy of BestBettingBonuses.co.uk, he said: “It’s incredible really, particularly at just 19 years old. Goalkeeper is such a difficult position to break through in, because there’s very little room for error and, unlike outfield players, you don’t often get the opportunity to be eased into senior football.

“I think what’s really encouraging is the trust clubs are now showing in young goalkeepers and the recognition of how important exposure to men’s football is for their development. We’ve seen it with Pierce Charles, James Beadle, and James Trafford, who have all benefited from playing senior football at a young age. Even Dean Henderson, who I played with at Sheffield United, gained invaluable experience through loans before establishing himself at the highest level.

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“There’s so much about goalkeeping that you simply can’t replicate in academy football. Dealing with the physicality of senior players, commanding a penalty area, organising experienced defenders, and coping with the pressure of results all contribute massively to your development. For Matty to have already gained so much senior experience and make the step up from League Two to League One look so comfortable says a lot about his ability and temperament.

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“I wouldn’t want to put a ceiling on how far he can go. The Premier League is obviously another huge step, but he’s certainly on the right trajectory. For me, the most important thing is that he continues playing regularly rather than rushing into a move where he might find himself sitting on the bench. At his age, those experiences are invaluable.”

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