View: Sunderland continue to promote youth amid Harrison Jones contract news
Harrison Jones signed a new contract at Sunderland as the Black Cats continue to showcase their academy players a pathway to senior football.
The Black Cats have had a successful campaign so far and much of that is down to their impressive youth-orientated approach which has seen several academy players thrive in the first team with Chris Rigg the biggest standout.
That approach has shown no signs of ending with the club announcing a contract extension for 19-year-old midfielder Jones who has already been nominated for a Player of the Month award this season.
Having been at the club for 13 years, Jones made his senior debut in the early season Carabao Cup defeat to Preston and could feature again before the end of the campaign.
Sunderland need to keep showcasing pathway for youth players
Much of the Wearsiders’ success this season, and in fact throughout the last few seasons, has been spearheaded by players who rose through the academy ranks at Sunderland with Rigg, Tommy Watson, Dan Neil and Anthony Patterson all starting to play crucial roles in the senior team.
Watson is the latest to have made the step up but faced a cruel blow as he suffered an injury against Bristol City (10 December) that will keep him out of action until 2025.
While Jones is yet to have a telling impact at senior level, his performances for the Under-21 side have been exemplary with the midfielder registering five goal contributions and it may only be a matter of time until he begins to be integrated into the first team.
Sunderland have several promising players still yet to break through and the contract stance is an excellent indication as to where the club’s priorities lie.
Far too many youth products have been allowed to leave the club in recent years and it is excellent to see that become a thing of the past.
In other Sunderland news, the Black Cats have received a boost ahead of their encounter with Blackburn.
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