Sunderland legend Kevin Ball has urged midfielder Elliot Embleton to show what he can do now he's earned a new two-year deal with the club, as reported by the Chronicle Live.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan with Grimsby Town in League Two, where his impressive displays saw him lift the Bristol Street Motors PFA Player of the Month for December. He made 27 appearances for the Mariners in all and returned to the Stadium of Light with his deal expiring.

It's believed before he penned fresh terms he wanted assurances about playing time with Jack Ross' side, leading to the negotiations taking a little longer than normal. Having had a season of senior football and having been capped up to Under 20 level with England, Embelton is clearly eager to develop.

That's all well and good according to Ball, but the youngster must now prove he's worth the two-year deal.

“He talked the talk, now he’s got to walk the walk,” said the 54-year-old.

“It’s been mooted he might have wanted assurances that he would play (for the first team) next season, but you have to earn that right. No one can ever turn around and give those assurances. I quite like his strength of character to question whether he will play like that."

He also commented that the senior football he was exposed to at Grimsby will have helped drive the midfielder's ambition further.

“It does young players a lot of good to get out on loan and he’s recognised that and put himself out there. It’s fed his belief that he needs to progress his game."

Embleton is the latest in a long line of players to earn professional deals after emerging from the Under 23 set up at the Academy of Light, with the likes of Josh Maja, Joel Asoro, Lynden Gooch and Goerge Honeyman all making the step up.

The Verdict

I like Embleton, a lot. I saw him plenty in League Two last season and he's a very good player. He's a technical midfielder, he drives forward and holds the ball very well.

What's more, he did it in a division where players of that ilk don't get a lot of time and in a side who were struggling for some part of the campaign. He's also very down to earth and grounded, he just wants to play football and that shows in his recent actions.

He wasn't being bullish or disrespectful when he questioned his playing time, he's just eager to do well and prove his worth. That self-belief is as valuable as ability in some instances and him having a bit of both is only good for Sunderland.