Jake Waters is set to leave Sunderland after scoring 20 goals in youth football and battling back from serious injury setbacks.

Sunderland striker Jake Waters is set to be released by the club at the end of the season as the Black Cats continue their summer academy reshuffle, The Echo understands.

Waters has been with Sunderland for several years and has shown considerable resilience during his time at the Academy of Light, having battled back from back-to-back ACL injuries. Those setbacks significantly disrupted his development, but the forward has returned to fitness this season, stayed largely injury-free aside from minor niggles, and shown encouraging signs in his first proper run back after a difficult period.

The forward has made 42 appearances for Sunderland across age-group and development competitions since the 2021-22 season, scoring 20 goals and providing five assists. His best return came in the 2022-23 campaign, when he scored 13 goals and added five assists in 24 U18 Premier League appearances.

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This season, Waters has again shown his finishing ability when given opportunities. He scored twice in six Premier League 2 appearances, added two goals in two Premier League Cup outings and also featured in the National League Cup and Premier League International Cup. His goals-to-minutes ratio has been strong.

Waters also gained valuable senior experience away from Sunderland, spending time on loan at Spennymoor Town and, most notably, Hebburn Town. His spell at Hebburn proved particularly important, with the forward playing his part in the non-league club’s against-the-odds promotion to National League North.

That loan also gave Waters the chance to experience regular senior football, something that is expected to be important in the next stage of his career. While there may have been hope that Sunderland would offer another year and send him out on loan again to continue proving himself, the club’s rapid rise and increasingly competitive first-team environment has made the pathway more difficult.

Sunderland’s progression from League One to the Premier League has been hugely positive for the club, but it has also raised the level required for young players trying to break through. In that context, this summer may represent the right time for Waters to move on and pursue regular football elsewhere. To that end, The Echo understands Waters will now leave the club when his contract expires as Sunderland make their annual academy decisions ahead of the summer. His departure comes as part of a wider reshuffle within the club’s youth set-up, with Sunderland making calls on several players as they look to shape the next phase of their academy and under-21 squads.

Sunderland have released promising young goalkeeper Dan Cameron. The 20-year-old has been with the Black Cats since under-10 level and has trained with the club’s first team on multiple occasions. However, Cameron is now set to leave the Academy of Light as Sunderland make their annual decisions on academy contracts ahead of the summer.

Cameron spent the early part of the season on loan at Hebburn Town in the seventh tier and earned strong reviews as the non-league side built momentum during their promotion-winning campaign. He was later recalled by Sunderland and sent to Boston United in the National League, two divisions higher, where he played nine full matches.

Your next Sunderland read: Cats release 6ft 5in goalkeeper after key contract decision and decade-long stint