Boss is keeping options open on Diamond’s loan
SUNDERLAND will review Jack Diamond’s loan spell at Harrogate Town in January - with boss Lee Johnson insisting he will make the right decision for player and club.
Diamond joined the League Two side in August, his second loan spell with the club having previously spent time there the season before last.
The loan agreement runs to the end of the season but Sunderland can recall him in January if they choose.
Johnson is keeping his options open but is conscious of the fact he already has options in wide positions with Lynden Gooch, Aiden O’Brien, Aiden McGeady, Leon Dajaku and Elliot Embleton competing for places.
Diamond is gaining valuable firstteam experience at Harrogate, where he has scored three goals in 12 league starts for the club.
Johnson said: “Jack is a young player we are heavily invested in in terms of development but also in terms of contract.
“We want to give him the opportunity to keep developing, keep playing games and if I could not commit to giving him 12-15 starts before January it was better for him to go somewhere else and then that potentially aids us in the second half of the season or continues his development at Harrogate.
“It is just making the right decision for the long-term future of both the player and the club.”
Johnson added: “Jack is gaining gametime and he is in a good team at Harrogate.
“He is well-valued in terms of the fact he has been there before and done well.
“We have kept a close eye on himand he is bringing out his top attributes, as you would expect from a player playing at slightly under his level in terms of the league.”