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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.
9. Ben Middlemas
Unapologetic ruthless and consistently neat in the centre of the midfield, Middlemas has been earning more and more opportunities with the U21s this season. Yet another name to remember for the future. | Frank Reid
10. Marshall Burke
Partnered Middlemas in the centre of midfield against Lyon earlier this week, and looked really handy before coming off at half-time. The 19-year-old will be looking to really kick on towards first team consideration in the coming months. Photo: FRANK REID
11. Jaydon Jones
The younger brother of U21s captain Harrison Jones, Jaydon is a more combative presence in the centre of the park, and one who will be eager to follow in his sibling's footsteps. Still very much an U18s player primarily, but one who has the potential to kick on rapidly. Photo: Photo by Ben Cuthbertson
12. Jewison Bennette
Obviously, Bennette joined Sunderland as a first team player before dropping back down to the U21s in recent times, but there is no denying that if his talent is nurtured in the right way, he has the potential to force his way back into Regis Le Bris' plans at some point in the future. | Jewison Bennette by Chris Fryatt