'Phenomenal' Sunderland prospect tipped to go far by former Black Cats forward
Sunderland youngster Isaac Allan has impressed during a loan spell with Northern Premier League Premier Division club Morpeth Town.
Sunderland prospect Isaac Allan has been described as ‘phenomenal’ after impressing during a loan spell with Northern Premier League club Morpeth Town.
The 19-year-old goalkeeper joined the Black Cats from Lincoln City during the summer and has been a regular in Graeme Murty’s Under-21s side throughout the early months of the season. However, Allan’s development was aided by a first loan spell of his young career after he joined Morpeth on an initial 28-day loan last month and that will come to an end at the end of December.
Working under Morpeth manager and former Black Cats forward Craig Lynch, Allan has helped the Highwaymen improve after a slow start to the season and they had lost just one of their last seven games ahead of Saturday’s short trip to North East rivals Hebburn Town. Allan’s temporary employers appeared to be on their way to a credible draw against a home side currently in the push for promotion before the Black Cats youngster was dealt a somewhat cruel blow deep in second-half injury-time.
A shot from Hornets captain Aidan Heywood struck his post before rebounding against Allan’s back and into his side to ensure Hebburn claimed an eighth consecutive win and condemn Morpeth to a first defeat in five games. The Sunderland’s prospect’s form has kept former Newcastle United academy goalkeeper Dan Langley on the sidelines and his form has prompted Lynch to deliver a glowing assessment of his ability as he prepares to return to Sunderland over the coming weeks.
Development
The former Sunderland forward told The Echo: “He’s unbelievable. I’ve said to Sunderland and to Isaac that with any other situation, he’s staying with us for as long as we can. But we have Dan Langley, who I’ve said many times is the best keeper in non-league football, and he’s had to wait an extra month to get back in. Issac has been phenomenal and everything about him tells me that he should make a career in the game. I’m delighted we’ve had him and I hope him coming to us helps his development.
“Everyone has development areas but he has a lot of very good attributes. You stand next to him, he’s over six foot but his presence is so much bigger than that. His kicking with both feet, his shot stopping, he has everything to go far and hopefully he is taken up the leagues. I would like to see him get as high as he can and I would love to see him do that on the back of this loan.”