Key behind scenes work of Sunderland signing in helping exciting striker prospect

SUNDERLAND teenage striker Trey Ogunsuyi is already learning from Ahmed Abdullahi despite the fact the deadline day signing is out injured and hasn't yet kicked a ball for the Black Cats.

Abdullahi arrived from Gent in the final hours of the window but it was then ruled by Sunderland that the striker needed surgery on a persistent groin problem.

He's not expected to be back in action until December but the 20-year-old has settled well on Wearside and has already had an impact behind the scenes - as revealed by Ogunsuyi, who has impressed in Sunderland's youth ranks and played his way into the first team squad for the last two Championship games.

"Ahmed (Abdullahi) came to our (Under-21s) fixture against Mönchengladbach and spoke to me at half time," said Ogunsuyi.

"He had a lot of advice to give which I really appreciated. We spoke about positioning and getting those small advantages over the defenders. These guys are experienced and anything I can learn from them is really helpful.”

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Ogunsuyi only signed his first professional contract with Sunderland at this start of this year but has enjoyed a memorable 2024.

He moved up from the Under-18s to the Under-21s and scored a dramatic winner in the Premier League 2 play-off semi-final against Reading.

He's continued to impress throughout the summer and caught the eye of Regis Le Bris, who last week described the 17-year-old as an "interesting player for the future".

Ogunsuyi was an unused substitute for the first team in the recent league games against Plymouth and Middlesbrough.

It's not clear at this stage whether he'll be involved again at Watford on Saturday or will feature for the Under-21s at Fulham on Friday night - or both. Regarddles, Ogunsuyi has cherished the opportunity to step up and join the first team fold.

He said: “Those experiences will live with me forever.

“Being a part of that environment in terms of the travelling, training, the dressing room, it teaches you a lot.

“The group have been really good to me every time I’ve made that step up.

“These last few years have been a real step forward in my development. I have had experiences that I have dreamt of for a very long time.

“I know this is just the beginning for me. I still have a lot of learning to do."