Interim Sunderland U21s boss John Hewitson has highlighted the importance of first-team players playing alongside the upcoming crop of red and white youngsters. Bailey Wright was one of the fringe first-team players to be given important minutes for the U21s against Middlesbrough last night.
The Australian international has missed the first few games of Tony Mowbray's Sunderland tenure due to personal circumstances that's seen him have time away from the squad. The experienced centre-back played the full 90 minutes against Boro at Heritage Park.
"For them to play alongside those players, for them to then pass on the knowledge and experience on the pitch, it's probably the best learning tool really," Hewitson told Chronicle Live. "We can do lots of coaching and lots of training sessions but that, against real opposition, competitive opposition, just talking them through the game, adds massive value to our younger players.
