Mitchell exit call made just before play-off final after Sunderland delay – Exclusive
Sunderland were forced into cut-throat decisions after earning promotion to the Premier League.
The Black Cats came into the play-off final as the underdogs against a Sheffield United side who so narrowly missed out on automatic promotion.
A Tommy Watson curler in the last minute proved to be the difference, with the Mackems now looking forward to a season in the top division.
That meant amazing news to those surrounding the Stadium of Light, but for many academy talents, it was the end of the road as the released list was drawn up.
Cuba Mitchell reflects on Sunderland release
It is always bound to be a difficult situation when assessing which youngsters to part ways with moving into the summer window.
One of those who faced that fate at the Academy of Light was Cuba Mitchell, who was let go in the days before the memorable day at Wembley.
Although many players would remain bitter about this sort of decision, the soon-to-be Bangladesh international blamed his injury issues on the final choice.
Speaking exclusively to Mackem News, Mitchell said: “I’m not sure really [why it didn’t work out at Sunderland].
“When everyone else got the news that they were being released or retained, my decision was extended because at the start of the season, I fractured my foot and missed a chunk of the season. It got prolonged and pushed to the end of the season, then obviously, Sunderland got to the play-offs, and they got to the final. I got told that I’d been released just before the final.
“You do watch and want to be involved. I’ll still watch all the games and want them to win in the Premier League, for sure. For how much they’ve helped me and how long I’ve been there, I still love the club. I still wish them the best of luck.
“100 per cent [the injury played a part in the release decision]. I was starting to get a good run of form, my first run of games.
“I think there are a lot of positives to take. You’re playing with the best players, not just in the under-21s but the U18s as well. The level of the academy, they compete with the top Premier League clubs in the PL2. The international cup, we played against Athletic Bilbao, and teams like that, and beat them.
“In terms of how my ability has improved, it has improved a lot since being there. Compared to being at Birmingham City, it was definitely a step up in terms of player quality. I’ve improved as much as I can under some great coaches, and I’ve put myself in a good position moving forward.“
Mitchell blames injury for Sunderland release
The Mackems have made a name for themselves picking up young talent and making the most of their abilities in SR5.
This was certainly on show at Wembley with Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg, and Eliezer Mayenda starting the crunch match in the capital.
| Rank | Club | Average age |
| 1. | Sunderland | 23.2 |
| 2. | Stoke City | 24.0 |
| 3. | Sheffield United | 24.5 |
| 4. | Norwich City | 25.0 |
| 5. | Watford | 25.1 |
With that being said, it doesn’t work out as expected for many, with Mitchell proving that it isn’t smooth sailing in the world of football.
Despite this, the 19-year-old isn’t letting this get him down and is already well into training camps in the hopes of landing a move ahead of the new season.
With a spot in the Bangladesh national team also in the pipeline, ready for the October international break, there is plenty to be excited about for Mitchell this summer.