“They enhance the team”: Sunderland U21s Head Coach praises Dennis Cirkin and Leo Hjelde in emphatic 4-0 victory

Sunderland U21 Lead Coach Graeme Murty revealed “we were ruthless” in the second half of the 4-0 victory against Bromley on Monday.

The Black Cats convincingly beat Bromley in the Premier League Cup Group H clash at Eppleton, with first-team players Leo Hjelde and Dennis Cirkin playing a large part in the game.

Post-match, he spoke about the influence and the fitness of the first-team players involved in the squad.

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He revealed: “The substitutes were definitely pre-planned, because we have got minutes we have got to hit; Dennis was 90, Leo was 60 and Romaine (Mundle) last week was 45.

“We sometimes need to be bad cops and take them off, when players feel really good about themselves but they have to trust us.

“We know what we are doing, and our sports staff have decided correctly to make sure we hit the relevant numbers for where they are.

“They are getting closer [to a first-team return], but we have to make sure that we link in really strongly with our sports science department.

“The head of performance was here today, and we have first-team coaches watching them, so they know that our eyes are on them, and everything is planned as they progress in their return.

“We pass on all the numbers and monitor everything they do.

“When they join us, the attitude that they show, our (U21) work is enhanced by having those guys around.

“I think it is really interesting when we have first-team players who are potentially not in the mix, yet, for first team minutes, because I think it can be quite challenging, but those guys have come with a fantastic attitude.

“They enhance what they do and our young players are learning loads.”

When asked how the youth players respond to having these players around them, he continued: “It’s a good way to measure themselves, and to play with really good players, we are really grateful and really blessed.

“Some of our guys have the opportunity to train with them everyday, they see the standards they set everyday, and the work rate and intensity can only be beneficial for our players.

“But, when they come onto the pitch with the likes of Dan Neil and Luke (O’Nien), the depths of their experience, organisation and basic fundamental understanding of the game are very different to an academy team.

“Our players have to be, and are, sponges to learn in that environment and we are really grateful for it.”

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Timur Tutierov and Harrison Jones, two players who have been around the club’s first team, scored on Monday, with Murty praising the duo.

The Lead Coach explained: “Ironically, they were probably the two that I was talking to at half time, more than anyone else.

“The growth in the team, not just this season, but from the start, we find it hard to measure, but when you look at the players, they are passing the eye test at the moment.

“They are doing good things, and are learning really well and most importantly, I think for all of them is that they are really humble with it.

“They understand that they have got lots to do and that desire to get better everyday, I think is one of the things we possess at the academy and long may that continue.

“If those guys are doing it at the sharp end of the oldest academy team, I think it sets a really good example for the younger ones.”