Why Sunderland's summer overhaul could hand big chance to emerging talent

Robbie Stockdale says Sunderland's young talent have a big chance to play their way into first team contention during the pre-season programme.

Stockdale handed full debuts to Luke Molyneux, Denver Hume and Bali Mumba during the 3-0 win over Wolves, with Elliot Embleton making his home bow.

Sunderland are set for a significant summer overhaul following relegation to League One, but are awaiting EFL approval for Stewart Donald’s takeover of the club.

Bali Mumba.Bali Mumba.
Bali Mumba.
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The players are due back to begin training pre-season on June 22.

Donald will hope for approval in the near future so that a managerial appointment can be made quickly and transfer business can begin.

Stockdale believes there could be an opportunity for the club’s homegrown talent to impress whoever becomes Chris Coleman’s permanent replacement.

He said: “They need to come back into pre-season and impress whoever is in the hotseat. It is no secret that we’ll probably have to bring in, how many players? Loads. 14 is not a bad roundabout figure.

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“So if these young lads come in and catch the eye it might just give them a chance to be starters at the start of the season.”

Stockdale also hailed Bali Mumba and said the 16-year-old can build on his debut against the league champions.

He said: “You can’t really plan how the game goes, it was a nice one to put him into. He’s trained with us quite a lot, with about 10 minutes to go I pulled him over and said, get ready to go on.

He said, ‘I’ve been ready for about 10 minutes’. When the time came he wasn’t actually, he was still doing his boots up. He’s a really mature boy, he’s got his exams this week so there’s plenty on his plate, he hadn’t trained this week because he had to be at school. With the right mentors around him he’ll do well.”