Sunderland: Johnson could be Batth’s heir

Sunderland beat Millwall 3-0 on the Stadium of Gentle of their first sport again after the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar final weekend.

Tony Mowbray’s males had been capable of sweep The Lions apart with a comparatively comfy win, due to objectives from Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard, and Ellis Simms.

The Black Cats had been sitting within the high half of the desk earlier than this weekend’s spherical of fixtures and at the moment are closing in on the play-off locations after 21 matches, which highlights how spectacular their return to this stage has been since they had been promoted from League One final season.

One participant who has been key to the membership’s success this time period has been skilled central defender Danny Batth. The previous Stoke Metropolis enforcer has performed each single minute of the marketing campaign up to now and caught the attention with some spectacular shows.

Journalist Josh Bunting described his efficiency towards Millwall as “colossal” and he has been a titan on the again all through the season – profitable 72% of his aerial battles and making 4.3 clearances per match.

Nevertheless, Mowbray might already want to begin desirous about what life will seem like after him. Batth turned 32 in September and his present contract is because of expire on the finish of the time period, which suggests that he’s not going to be a long-term possibility for the supervisor.

The top coach may now discover the inheritor to the excellent defender’s throne at centre-back by unearthing Academy of Gentle teen Zak Johnson within the coming months.

Mowbray named the 18-year-old on the bench for Sunderland’s 2-1 win over Birmingham Metropolis in November, one thing that signifies the supervisor sees potential within the younger expertise.

Journalist Josh Bunting described Johnson as an “exciting” prospect due to his “key defensive attributes“, while additionally telling supporters to “remember the name“.

Is Zak Johnson a future Sunderland star?

{The teenager} has performed 24 occasions for the U21 facet, after making 16 appearances for the U18s, and made his senior bow for the Black Cats within the EFL Trophy – taking part in one minute – within the 2021/22 marketing campaign.

He has performed ten matches at youth stage as a right-back however he’s a central defender by commerce and has performed within the coronary heart of the defence on 26 events for Sunderland.

The enforcer has made himself an everyday within the U21s, regardless of solely turning 18 in July, and this, together with Mowbray’s resolution to name him as much as the first-team squad, means that he has the potential to make the step as much as senior soccer sooner or later as he has already made nice strides in his youth profession.

Due to this fact, Johnson may very well be the long-term inheritor to the distinctive Batth’s place within the crew and the boss ought to give the academy gem extra publicity within the Championship, whether or not that comes within the type of minutes or making matchday squads.