Sunderland boss David Moyes hopes to attract best teenage talent
Tuesday 15 November 2016 10:16, UK
Sunderland manager David Moyes is hoping his willingness to give youngsters a chance in his first team will attract some of the best young talent in the game to Wearside.
In a bid to inject energy into his ageing squad, Moyes has fielded 10 Under-23 players this season, including defenders Paddy McNair, Donald Love and Jason Denayer, and midfielders Didier Ndong and Adnan Januzaj.
"Everton had an academy which produced young players, Manchester United had an academy which produced young players, and Sunderland have an academy which has produced," Moyes said.
"I want it to inspire young players to think, 'If I go to Sunderland, the manager might put me in the team there. Maybe it's better than going to one of the big clubs where maybe the manager won't put me in the team'.
"We'll have to use that as a motivation to the parents and the young players out there to say, 'Come to Sunderland'."
Sunderland's academy have produced several prospects in recent years, including goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, winger Duncan Watmore and midfielder Lynden Gooch, as well as Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Sunderland, who are bottom of the Premier League, will look to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they host third-bottom Hull City on Saturday.
