Sunderland coach backs 'creative and quality' youngster to force selection dilemma

Sunderland Under-21s coach John Hewitson has backed Adil Aouchiche to make a first team breakthrough after an impressive showing in the Premier League Cup.

Aouchiche pulled the strings for Sunderland’s youngsters as they beat Bristol City 1-0, creating the winner for Luis Hemir in the second half.

It capped off a fine performance from the 21-year-old, who probably hasn’t had as many opportunities for Sunderland as he’d have hoped for following his summer arrival from Lorient.

Hewitson, though, sees an awful lot of quality there, and he thinks it’s only a matter of time before Aouchiche is giving Michael Beale a serious midfield selection headache.

“He’s a creative player and I think he’s a good character to have within the squad,” Hewitson told the Sunderland Echo. “His language is really good so he’s able to communicate and express what he wants from his teammates around him very well.

“He just adds that little bit of quality to our squad.”

Aouchiche and Hemir were joined on the under-21s team sheet by January signing Romaine Mundle.

All three were unused substitutes for the first team in their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough last week, but Hewitson has little doubt about their quality. 

“Hopefully all three of them will give the manager and first-team squad some selection problems problems and selection dilemmas in the future,” he said.

“I think the sports scientists will look at Romaine’s load before he’s come here. It’s just a case of they’ll track on what he’s done.

“His plan was to play 60 minutes just to get him up to speed and then progress him from there.

“I haven’t seen him in training but tonight he showed glimpses and was exciting. He looks quick, he looks direct, he looks quite jinky. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him really.

“Hemir and Adil just need to get 90 minutes under their belt so they are ready to go for the first team when called upon. There was nothing untoward, no injuries, that was just the plan before the game.”

READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS

• Sunderland contract situation: Who is nearing the end of their current deal?
• Top Ten: Sunderland's best ever January signings
• Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham names two former Sunderland players as his heroes
• Jordan Willis and seven other Sunderland careers ruined by injury
• Sell to thrive, not sell to survive: The Sunderland 'model' explained - in their own words
• Luke O'Nien and eight other Sunderland players who successfully changed positions