The impressive Sunderland debut months in the making and why it could be crucial for Phil Parkinson

With two teams heavily reshuffled, a scrappy start was certain.
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So there may well have been some trepidation when Fleetwood broke quickly down the right flank.

There, though, was Ollie Younger.

One strong recovery run and one crunching challenge later, the danger was gone.

Oliver Younger strikes the crossbar at Highbury StadiumOliver Younger strikes the crossbar at Highbury Stadium
Oliver Younger strikes the crossbar at Highbury Stadium
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Younger's hamstring injury was arguably the biggest disappointment of the night for Sunderland, just as the 20-year-old looked to be delivering something of a breakthrough performance.

Yes, there were one or two nervous moments in possession, but what caught the eye was the aggression with which Younger went about his work.

It was visible in both boxes, the youngster desperately unfortunate to see a crunching header early in the contest bounce clear from the underside of the bar.

Younger was initially brought to the club after his release from Burnley in the summer, part of the policy to strengthen an U23 side that struggled badly in the previous campaign.

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The ramifications of that were widespread, and it was an area in urgent of need of investment.

Younger, though, was quickly demonstrating that he could have something to offer at senior level.

When Morgan Feeney, himself enjoying a bright start to life on Wearside, suffered a hamstring injury, it was Younger who was brought in to train with the first-team group.

He relished the challenge, and it would become clear a few weeks later just what an impact he had made.

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With defensive injuries piling up, it was Younger who was named on the bench for the trip to Swindon Town.

Such was Younger's progress, he had leapfrogged Brandon Taylor in the pecking order (Taylor, it should be said, produced what was comfortably his best performance of the group stage on Tuesday night).

That encouraging first-half showing, then, was one months in the making.

The hamstring injury that followed is a frustrating setback, but there is every reason to think that Younger could still have a part to play for Parkinson before the season is out.

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The left side of the back three remains something of a problem position.

Arbenit Xhemajli will not play again this season, and there will be times when Tom Flanagan is away on international duty with Northern Ireland.

An injury to Flanagan would again leave a clear gap in the side.

Luke O'Nien has performed the role superbly on occassions, but struggled against Portsmouth and it is clear that the side loses an edge when he is moved away from the right wing-back role.

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In almost every position on the pitch (particularly with Feeney likely to return before the new year), Parkinson has two established options.

Xhemajli's injury blow means that side of defence is the one area where he could be left light over the course of the campaign.

"We’ve just got to hope it’s not too bad," Parkinson said.

“He’s made his mark tonight, but he’s made his mark in training with the lads as well.

"He’s done really well."

With Flanagan and Conor McLaughlin preparing for a EURO 2020 play-off, Younger has likely missed out on the chance of being part of the squad this Saturday.

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From everything we have seen of him so far, though, you expect he will fight his way back in before the season is out.

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