Tony Mowbray predicts 'exciting times ahead' as Sunderland's young players blossom. The Black Cats' starting XI includes young talents such as Jack Clarke, Dennis Cirkin, and Ellis Simms, along with homegrown players such as Anthony Patterson, Elliot Embleton, and Dan Neil.
The club has also brought in another crop of youngsters in recent weeks, with Abdoullah Ba arriving from Le Havre, Jewison Bennette from Costa Rica, Edouard Michut on loan from Paris St Germain, and Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester United. Diallo made his debut as a substitute in Sunderland's defeat at Middlesbrough last night, while the other new arrivals are still working their way towards full match fitness.
"We made some changes and young Diallo came on and Embleton and they have shown me in training that they are good players," said Mowbray. "I think, watching the group in training, we've got some exciting times ahead.
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"Some of the young lads that our supporters have never seen because they have just joined the club, watching in training the other day how fast and dynamic they are, yet they haven't played a game for five or six weeks some of them so it's a bit early to throw them on the bench at the moment. I think the future looks pretty bright with all these young players."
Despite the result, Mowbray was generally pleased with the way the younger players involved against Boro acquitted themselves. He said: "They've shown they can compete with a team with a lot of pedigree and experienced footballers.
"But the young players will have to deal with the adversity of losing a game, and they'll have to do that against Millwall this weekend. That's how you develop character and grow as a character.
"I'm sure the Stadium of Light will be bouncing at the weekend and will help the team get the three points."
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