Jack Ross believes some of his young Sunderland stars could have benefitted from loan spells before he came along, but he's happy to be putting things right now.

The Black Cats boss has Elliot Embleton, Max Stryjek and Luke Molyneux out on loan at Grimsby, Eastleigh and Gateshead respectively.

He believes the senior football is doing them good, but that perhaps it should have come sooner in their careers.

All three were with the club last season but largely ignored by Chris Coleman in the Under 23 squad, with Ross feeling regular football should have come sooner.

"It's playing regularly every week versus the odd game every now and then," Ross told the Chronicle Live.

"I think there's some of them who probably could have done with that (a loan spell) before now. I think Max, Elliot and Luke could have done with playing regularly before now, but now they're getting it."

He told of regular competitive football being far better for their development than a handful of appearances in the much-maligned EFL Trophy.

"Max's form at Eastleigh has been really, really good. Elliot has had to work really hard to get in the team at Grimsby but I think he's making a really good positive contribution now. It's much better for them to be doing that in League Two or the National League, rather than playing the odd game here and there in the Checkatrade."

Embleton is an England Under 20 international currently battling to keep Grimsby out of the bottom two in League Two, whilst Stryjek has Poland honours at Under 17, Under 18 and Under 19 level.

The Verdict

Ross is quite right, the loan market has evolved and it is now the best way to get young players regular first team football. It happens in the Premier League with the likes of Harvey Barnes and filters down through the divisions.

Under 23 football is all well and good, but nothing teaches youngsters the rigours of the senior game like a Tuesday night trip to Bromley or a blood and thunder relegation six-pointer at Blundell Park.

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