Louis-Dreyfus watches Cats’ U23s beat Stoke City to book final spot

KyrilLouis-Dreyfuswasaninterested spectator as Sunderland’s Under-23 side defeated Stoke City.

The club’s majority shareholder has been a regular at first-team games since he purchased a majority stake in the club from Stewart Donald in February.

Indeed, he has scarcely missed a fixture since his arrival in the country at the start of the year and has taken an avid interest in all areas of the club, with the billionaire a regular fixture at the Academy of Light.

And now, Louis-Dreyfus has lent his support to the Under-23 side after they defeated Stoke City 2-0 in their biggest game of the season after a monumental turnaround in fortunes.

Goals from Josh Hawkes and Oliver Younger saw the Black Cats beat favourites

Stoke City to set-up a final against Crystal Palace next week.

The 23-year-old Sunderland owner took to Instagram on Monday evening to share the fact that he was watching the club’s second string in their play-off tie at the bet365 Stadium.

Louis-Dreyfus was joined by other members of the club’s executive team in the stands – where 2,000 fans were also able to watch the game after lockdown restrictions eased.

*Sunderland named three trialists in their Under-23 squad as they beat Stoke City – as the Black Cats look ahead to the summer transfer window.

Elliott Dickman’s side claimed victory at the bet365 Stadium in a Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off, with the side containing many recognisable faces.

Anthony Patterson, Oliver Younger, Dan Neil and Josh Hakwes were all involved – along with a trio of trialists.

Tyrese Dyce, formerly of Premier League side West Brom, started the game at left back.

The youngster also featured against Stoke in the side’s final game of the regular season.

And on the bench were Tom Scott and Ethan Kachosa – the latter of whom has reportedly signed a contract on Wearside, but was listed as a trialist on the team sheet.

Scott is on the books of Northampton Town while Kachosa was previously with Leeds United and has impressed for Sunderland’s Under-18 side in recent weeks.