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Sunderland are a team who emphasise the importance of youth more than most. The Black Cats have a staggeringly low average age in their first team squad, and with teenage starlets like Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham shining on a weekly basis, it is unlikely that they are going to turn their back on emerging talent any time soon.
One of the most recent graduates into the first team picture is flying winger Tommy Watson, an immensely exciting prospect who brings to mind summer departure Jack Clarke in a number of ways. The 18-year-old has been a regular fixture of Regis Le Bris’ match day squads this term, and has started to make more frequent cameos from the bench too.
Discussing Watson in a recent press conference, the Sunderland head coach said: "Tommy is still young. Romaine [Mundle] waited for his opportunities behind Jack Clarke, so it's like that. We don't know when this door will be open but you need to work behind the scenes so you are ready for this moment. I think Tommy is working hard, he's now close to the professional team and he has good potential. He needs to wait, learn from these experiences even if they are on the bench.
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"He has improved a lot in a short space of time. Now, it is about making sure he settles in and fits into the culture we are building here. He needs to get to know the game model and the way we want the team to operate. That will come with the experiences he gets with us. I think he is very close to the squad, and he will have opportunities during the periods we are going into where we have three games in a week. I am sure he will get opportunities to show what he is able to do.”
And with Watson’s star on the rise, it got us thinking about which U21s players could be the next to follow him into the senior setup at the Stadium of Light. With that in mind, here are 14 names that you should be keeping an eye out for over the coming months.
5. Ben Crompton
A relatively senior member of this U21s squad, Crompton is a versatile and assured defender who feels like one of the next natural successors to a first team call-up. Photo: Frank Reid
6. Timur Tutierov
Blessed with a blistering turn of pace and always willing to provide an outlet, the Ukrainian is a talent. Again, he has travelled with the first team squad already this season, and will be hoping to make that a regular occurrence as the campaign progresses. | Ben Cuthbertson Photo: Ben Cuthbertson
7. Finn Geragusian
Still in the U18s, Geragusian is a goal-scorer with a big future ahead of him. An Armenian youth international, he was on the score sheet during the last international break, and while he is still some way off the first team on Wearside, he is certainly a name to remember. Photo: Ben Cuthbertson
8. Rhys Walsh
A technically-gifted winger with a knack for tying full-backs up in knots, Walsh was signed from Glentoran and has slowly been working his way into the U21s setup following Watson's step up to the first team. He still has some way to go, but there is a talent in there. Photo: Andrew McCarroll