Ethan Robson has signed a new deal with Sunderland, the club have confirmed.

This season has been terrible for Sunderland so far, but this provides a ray of light for the fans.

The 21-year-old is an academy graduate and has impressed this season when he's been called up to the first-team.

Robson has played a total of nine games this season with his debut being in the Carabao Cup against Everton. Seven of those have come in the league with his latest game being in the 2-0 defeat against Brentford.

His comments revealed how happy he was to be extending his stay at the club: "I’m over the moon and buzzing to get the deal done. It is great for me personally and it’s something I’ve been wanting to get done."

“I’ve been here since I was eight. I would like to commit my future to the club. I am a Sunderland fan and I want to do as well as I can for the club.”

The Verdict

The club may be in a poor position right now, but they are obviously planning for the future with moves like this.

Ensuring that there is a clear route into the first-team is key and keeping these young players at the club for as long as possible is a smart move because of the loyalty and quality they bring to the team. They also ensure that there is a clear connection to the fans due to them being able to root for one of their own.

Hopefully Robson is given more opportunities to show his worth in the first-team as the Black Cats fight relegation.