Young talent is getting plenty of practice
ROSS IS HEARING GOOD THINGS ABOUT EMBLETON AHEAD OF LOAN ENDING
JACK Ross is getting regular updates on the progress of Elliot Embleton during his loan spell at Grimsby Town.
The talented young central midfielder moved to Blundell Park in the summer with the hope of getting more first team experience under his belt.
And it’s serving its purpose so far, with Embleton making nine appearances so far and impressing along the way for the League Two outfit.
While Sunderland manager Ross can’t get to see Embleton personally, he is getting regular scouting updates from Kevin Ball of his performances.
“He’s got a belief in his own abilities, Elliot,” Ross said of the England U20 international.
“If you speak to him, he’s got faith in what he’s got.
“When we had conversations with him about going out on loan, I believed he needed it for gametime and for the experience and he agreed.
“When I send a player out on loan, I would never, ever say to a manager that they must play. I’ve brought players in on loan before and you’re almost under a little bit of duress to play them and it’s nonsense.
“They should go there and be like every other player in the squad. Elliot has done that, because there was a couple of times where he found himself out of the squad, but he’s made himself one of their better players I believe.
“Every report I’ve had has been that he’s been very effective for them and that’s credit to him. In the grand scheme of his career, whether that be at Sunderland or elsewhere, whatever lies ahead for him, he’ll be much the better for this period.
“I’ve had chats with him already, I speak to him to see how he’s getting on. Bally goes and sees him a lot.”
Embleton’s loan at Grimsby comes to an end in January.
With the transfer window open though, they will have a decision to make on the 19-year-old’s short-term future. Does he return and challenge for the first team at Sunderland, stay at Grimsby or move on loan elsewhere?
Ross sounds open to another loan exit, but sounds happy to leave it up to Embleton on whether that’s at Blundell Park or elsewhere.
Ross continued: “We’ll sit with him and agree what’s best. I wouldn’t bring him back if he’s not going to get gametime here, because that’s to the detriment of him in general.
“And also, selfishly for me, I want an Elliot Embleton in my squad who has maybe played 40 first-team games, because then he’s better equipped to deal with it. We’ve not made a decision either way, if he did continue to play elsewhere for the rest of the season I don’t think it would be a bad thing.”