Parkinson looking to bridge the gap between U23s and first team

Phil Parkinson says greater integration between the club’s U23 and senior groups is a key priority this season.

The club’s upper age groups at the Academy of Light have been severely weakened in recent times, with a number of talented youngsters sold to Premier League clubs.

The under-18 and under-23 sides failed to win a league game during what was a punishing campaign last time out.

Parkinson says the quality in the U23 group wasn’t good enough, and something that the new salary cap rules should push the club to rectify.

The Black Cats boss will look to bring the two teams closer together and revealed that Elliott Dickman’s side will mirror the shape and style of the senior group this season.

“We are trying this season to build an U23 team and have some integration with the younger players in the first team squad and that U23 team and treat it like a reserve team.

"I felt last year it was difficult in that U23 team in terms of the results but I didn't feel there were enough players ready to step up and stake a claim. This year we have Dan Neil,JackDiamond,JakeHackett, Brandon Taylor, Morgan Feeney, lads off the top of my head who have been training with the first team and will form that integration between the U23s and the first team.

"We would like to give as many of those lads a chance on Tuesday in the EFL Trophy.

“With the the Salary Cap situation, there is a £2.5m cap, you are allowed 22 players over 21 but you are allowed U21s in your squad - the likes of Feeney, Neil, Embleton, Diamond are so important, they thicken up the numbers in the squad but don't count towardsthe finances or the numbers,” he added.

“For the future of the club as well, we’ve got to build the academy back up.

“We’ve got to have players wanting to sign for our academy and wanting to stay there because they see that there are chances to get in and around our first-team squad.

“All those players who’ve been with us during pre-season, a couple went back to play for the U23s earlier this week in a friendly. As I said, we want that team to be almost like a reserve team where there is that integration of players.

"Myself, Jim Rodwell, the board and academy staff have been discussing all summer how we want the U23s to play the same shape as the first team and want that crossover between the two teams, and in turn also strengthen that team up because we want to be more competitive in that division."