Youngsters to get chance in Trophy
PHIL Parkinson will turn to Sunderland’s new generation for tonight’s EFL Trophy opener.
The Black Cats will take on Aston Villa Under-21s at the Stadium of Light in their first Group A game (7pm).
Ahead of this weekend’s first League One game against Bristol Rovers on Wearside, Parkinson named a full-strength side for Saturday’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Hull City.
But with the Villa game falling between those two matches, he will make wholesale changes for the Trophy encounter.
And that means that some of Sunderland’s up and coming academy products such as Dan Neil and Jack Diamond – who both impressed in pre-season – along with Brandon Taylor and Jake Hackett are likely to start.
New centre-back signing Arbenit Xhemajli (pictured left) could figure if his international clearance comes through in time. Parkinson will also include a number of firstteamers who did not figure against Hull, which may mean debuts for new keeper Remi Matthews and defender Morgan Feeney.
Grant Leadbitter and Josh Scowen could also be involved as they were unused substitutes against Hull.
Parkinson said: “I will bring in young players, and also some of the lads who haven’t played need a game as well.
“That’s really important.
“It’s important at this stage of the season to get everybody back up to speed. There will be some senior players in there, but we want to give the youngsters an opportunity in that game.”
One player who is expected to miss out is Elliot Embleton, who suffered a thigh injury in Sunderland’s pre-season friendly against Gateshead a fortnight ago.
Ordinarily, Embleton would have been a likely starter against Villa but he only resumed running last week, and Parkinson said he would be stepping up to full training this week.