One of the good things about players who have come through a club’s academy is they often think the same way as those on the terraces. George Honeyman’s over-riding emotion after the 1-0 win over Hull City was pride.
“I felt proud coming off with a 1-0 win with five young lads on the pitch,” said the Prudhoe-born midfielder, speaking as if he was no longer one of them, knocking on as he is at the grand old age of 23, the grizzled veteran of 37 Sunderland appearances.
“I know the academy got a lot of stick for a while when there wasn’t any players in the first team, so there will be a lot of people at this club pleased to see us all on the pitch together.
“Think Jack Colback and no one else, and then Jordan (Pickford). But it’s hard when you are in the Premier League for managers to turn to the young ones, you have to be some player for the manager to turn to you at that level.
“I have always had belief in the academy, I think we are all very grateful for those that have helped us.
“It makes you proud when there are a lot of young lads from the academy on the pitch at first-team level, and you win games like on Saturday.
“I am really pleased for the club and the academy, that it’s finally paying off.”
Honeyman, goalscorer Joel Asoro, Ethan Robson, Josh Maja and the man who replaced him, Lynden Gooch, have served time on what Honeyman calls, “those cold Monday nights at Eppleton,” where Sunderland’s under-23s play. “It’s all character-building!” he chuckles.
Twenty-year-old Jake Clarke-Salter and Tyias Browning, 23, also played key parts against the Tigers.
The youngsters have had a refreshing effect on everything.
“Ethan and Joel and Maj, they just want to come in and do really well – they are not focused on the consequences of defeat,” Honeyman says.
“That’s the kind of freshness that young players can bring.
“Even in training it has become more intense.
“We’ve had a couple of under-16 lads train with us this week and they have been fantastic as well.
“You want that freshness, and they have definitely brought that.”