Sunderland keeper praised by Quakers fan amid superb loan
Sunderland goalkeeper Matty Young has been making waves whilst on loan at Darlington.
The 17-year-old shotstopper joined the National League North side on loan earlier this season with the Quakers fighting relegation under the stewardship of former Newcastle United player Steve Watson.
Since joining Darlington, the club have won 10 out of the 13 games Young has started in - and secured safety with a 3-1 at home against Farsley Celtic on Saturday afternoon.
Young was presented with Darlington’s Young Player of the Season award following the clash and was praised by Sunderland’s interim head coach Mike Dodds this week.
Young is now drawing comparisons to England and Everton No.1 Jordan Pickford, who also rose through the ranks at the Academy of Light after a loan spell at Darlington back in 2012, where he made 17 appearances.
Here, we caught up with Darlington fan and insider Craig Stobbard, who also works as a journalist for the Northern Echo, to unearth just how good Young has been for Darlington - and how far he could go in the future.
Craig Stobbard said: “Huge. Darlington have had a renaissance under Steve Watson, somehow avoiding relegation despite appearing to be doomed in February when they were nine points from safety, and Young has been a key player in the improved form.
“The team have won 10 of the 13 matches in which he’s played.
"He has been one of four astute signings – Scott Barrow, Cedric Main and Matty Cornish the others – without whom Quakers would have been relegated weeks ago.
An injury to usual firstchoice Tommy Taylor paved the way for Young’s loan.
"Though Tommy has been available again for weeks, I understand that he has been magnanimous about the situation and has no qualms about not getting back into the team as he can see how good Young is.”
CS: “If I’m honest, I had reservations when it was first announced Darlington had signed a 17-year-old goalkeeper.
"Surely he’d not be up to the rigours of non-league football? But Matty is 17 in the same way that Luke Littler is 17 – neither of them look or play like they are not yet old enough to vote.
"In fact, until I see his passport I won’t believe he’s only a teenager!
“His first match was away to South Shields, nearly 3,000 in the ground, so a big test for a local lad largely used to artificial academy football, but he kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 win and did not look back.
"It’s the commanding of his penalty area and distribution that stands out. He catches crosses cleanly,