Striker Nelson signs month’s loan at high-flying Harrogate
Sunderland striker Andrew Nelson has joined Harrogate Town on a 28-day youth loan.
The 20-year-old, who had a spell on loan at Hartlepool United in League Two last season, has been training with the Vanarama National League North table-toppers, and confirmed the deal yesterday.
Nelson is yet to make a firstteam appearance for Sunderland and is heading south to bolster his experience.
The strong and robust striker’s stint at Pools last term was cut short by a serious knee injury, Nelson making just four appearances before returning to the Academy of Light for treatment.
Highly-rated by the club’s academy staff, fit-again Nelson has been a regular for the Under-18 and Under-23 sides. As previously reported, there was summer interest from a number of Scottish Championship clubs.
The striker spent yesterday training with Harrogate ahead of today’s game against Leamington at their Wetherby Road ground.
Sunderland currently only have two Under-23 players out on loan; goalkeeper Max Stryjek at League Two Accrington Stanley and centreback Michael Ledger, who has impressed at Pools in the National League Premier.
EFL sides cannot loan players outside of transfer windows, so moves to non-league teams or teams abroad are the only current option for Sunderland’s youngsters ahead of the January window opening.