Inside story on Cats’ trialist
In his search for competition on the left flank, Phil Parkinson has turned to Demetri Mitchell.
A graduate of Manchester United’s famed academy, the 23-year-old comes with a strong pedigree, and firstteam experience in Scotland via a loan spell with Hearts.
He is currently on trial at the Academy of Light and is known to have made a strong impression.
ButwhatcouldSunderland fans expect from the full-back were he to put pen to paper?
Wespoketotwojournalists who have watched the youngsterregularlytogettheirviews on Mitchell’s strengths, weaknesses–andwhetherhewould prove a good acquisition for Sunderland… The Man United view
Mitchell’s exit from Old Trafford brought to an end a promisingyouthcareerwhich, back in 2017, looked as if it may have no limit.
The full-back was a winger when he joined United as a youngster,havingplayedforlocalsideFletcherMossRangers - the same club who nurtured
Marcus Rashford.
But the exit of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson on loan saw Mitchell converted to a full-back to plug the gap for United’sunder-23s.Sincethen, he hasn’t looked back.
Indeed, it was in that position that the youngster first caughttheeyeofthefirst-team management, then led by Jose Mourinho.
“He impressed in that position but it was his versatility that probably made him an attractive choice for Mourinho,”saysHarryRobinson,the founderof‘AcademyManUtd’.
“Mitchell trained with the first team a lot and was involved in a couple of travelling squads before his debut.
“His debut was the last game of the season for United in 2017. They beat Crystal Palace and Mourinho handed debuts to a huge number of academy graduates.
“Scott McTominay is the only one who has become a first-team fixture. Mitchell stayed with United after that game and there was definitely a feeling that he had a chance at the club.”
ButthatprovedtobeMitchell’s only first-team outing for the Red Devils.
Sowhydidn’themakemore of a mark following an – admittedly – injury-plagued loan spell with Hearts?
Robinson said: “At that point, Solskjaer was manager and when Mitchell returned to training in September 2019, Brandon Williams was already starting to make himself known and made his debut at the end of that month.
“From that point there wasn’t much space for Mitchell.”
Itwasoflittlesurprisewhen the 23-year-old was released upon the expiration of his contract this summer, but Robinson said: “I think he’s ready for first-team football but not ready to step up to ManchesterUnited’sfirst-teamfootball. That’s why he’s been released.
“Nevertheless, there are countless tales of released United players who have carved out really impressive careers for themselves.
“I hope Mitchell does well wherever he signs.”
So what can Sunderland fans expect to see if the fullback does put pen to paper on a deal at the Stadium of Light?
“Overthelockdownperiod, hebulkedupalot,asmanyfootballers did,” says Robinson.
“He looks stronger than ever before and that’s a good use of his time. He’s still quite lean and so the decent pace which he has shouldn’t be negatively affectedbyabitofextraweight and strength.
“He is quick and always has been. He was a winger before he was a left-back and can play in both positions.
“He’s got that tricky style where he can squirm away from his opposite number. As a defender, again, we’ve not seen much of him in that position at United for a long time. It’s always natural for a couple of weaknesses to be obvious for converted wingers. But he should be able to improve on any pretty quickly.” The Hearts view
While he may have only made a sole senior appearance for United, Mitchell did gain some valuable first-team experience during two separate loan spells at Hearts.
Injuries may have limited him to 29 appearances, but that proved ample time for him to make an impression at Tynecastle.
“He made a really positive impact,” says Joel Sked, a journalist with the Edinburgh Evening News.
“Left-backhadbeenaproblempositionfortheclubbefore hearrived.Despiteplayingjust 11 times [during his first loan spell] he was well liked and when he was re-signed the followingseasontherewasplenty of excitement amongst fans.
“There have been plenty of Academy footballers come up to Scotland with the belief that it'll be easy, then they get a fright. Hearts have had a few. But not Mitchell.
“The pace of the game suited him and he wasn't put off by the physicality.”
That insight should bode well for Sunderland, with one ofthemajorconcernsoverany youngplayerwhethertheycan handletherigmaroleofLeague One.
“He was at his best when he was a left-back with the experience of Christophe Berra beside him,” says Sked.
“However,hewasinjuredin hissecondspellandthenwhen he came back he wasn't quite the same player.
“Looking at his qualities he is a wing-back for me. The big thing was pace and directness.
“Hearts were a pretty slow team but Mitchell gave them much-needed speed, acceleration and directness on the wings.
“In addition he had a dangerous left foot, as seen with a fine goal in the cup against St Johnstone,andwhilehiscrossing could be erratic he would often play it with pace.
“In the second season, defensive vulnerability became more evident.
“I think he can be a good one-on-one defender but positionally suspect at times and some of the basics of defending need improvement, when to tuck in, when to clear the lines. But it has to be rememberedthisisaplayerwhohasn't played the role for a long time.”