SUNDERLAND are delighted with the progress of their teenage goalkeeper Matty Young, who made his EFL debut this week when he was handed a first league start for Salford City.

Young joined the League Two side in the summer on the back of a hugely impressive stint with Darlington in National League North last term.

But the England youth international has had to be patient in the first half of the season, with experienced Jamie Jones - who left Middlesbrough for Salford in the summer - establishing himself as Karl Robinson's No.1

Young, though, has impressed in cup competitions and after a superb display in the FA Cup victory over Cheltenham at the weekend - which set up a mouthwatering third round tie against Manchester City - Young kept his place in the side and was given the nod over Jones for Tuesday night's visit of Harrogate Town. And he took his chance with a clean sheet in a 2-0 win, which included a fantastic first half double save.

While Sunderland will have hoped Young would have played more games in the first half of the season, Black Cats bosses are still understood to be pleased with how the goalkeeper is progressing

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Had he not broken into the Salford team ahead of January - when Sunderland have a recall clause - there would likely have been interest from other non-league and National League clubs in signing the goalkeeper for the second half of the season.

Sunderland would have weighed up their options, though they are aware that even if he hasn't played regularly in the league so far Young only turned 18 last week and will still have benefited enormously from daily first team training and being part of matchday squads.

Still, Sunderland's preference would obviously be regular action for Young, which the Black Cats will hope to be the case now Young has played his way into the team.

The Black Cats have extremely high hopes for the future for Young, who recently put pen to paper on a new extended long-term deal on Wearside, committing to the club until 2028.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: “We’re pleased with Matty’s progress at present and thrilled that he has extended his contract through to 2028.

"His recent England Under-20 debut at 17 years of age provides a nice reference point of where he is currently and through continued hard work and dedication, he can go on to achieve much more.”

Salford are next in action when they finish Gillingham in League Two this weekend.