Jack Diamond has been back on Wearside during the international break - with Sunderland boss Alex Neil keen to see the young forward first-hand. Diamond has spent the majority of the season on loan at Harrogate Town, joining the League Two side at the end of August before returning to Sunderland at the beginning of January when the Black Cats were dealing with a Covid outbreak, and then returning to Wetherby Road near the end of the month.
The academy graduate has had a successful season with the North Yorkshire side, scoring ten goals in 32 league appearances and, while Sunderland have been monitoring his progress on a regular basis, Neil - who took over in February - had not had the chance to work with the 22-year-old. But during the international break Diamond has spent time training with Sunderland, although he will return to Harrogate for the run-in.
"We've watched a lot of his stuff while he's been down there, and this week has given us a great opportunity to bring him in and let him train with the lads," said Neil.
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"I think it was a pre-agreement really that we wanted to take hold of and get him in, so he has been with us for training. It's been good to see him at close quarters and hopefully he can finish the season there really well."
This is the second season that Diamond has spent a loan spell at Harrogate, with his first stint coming in 2019-20. That season Diamond helped Simon Weaver's team win promotion to the EFL for the first time in the club's history.
Harrogate's promotion came via the National League play-offs, with Diamond scoring in the final at Wembley to help secure a 3-1 win over Notts County.
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