By Tom Burton
Josh Maja, Kinetic graduate and Sunderland U18s striker, is waiting in the wings to show the relegation-threatened first team that he has got what it takes.
Maja has been training with the first team in recent weeks as Sam Allardyce looks to draft in young players to keep the first team on their toes.
And the 16 year old even warmed up with them on the Stadium of Light turf ahead of Sunderland’s important 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
If The Black Cats’ fate is sealed one way or another, there is a good chance Maja will find himself named in the first team squad before the season is up.
He’s relished the opportunity of showing what he can offer while benefitting from the guidance of experienced pros such as Jermain Defoe.
“I took the chance and they were impressed with me,” Maja told the club’s website.
“But now I have got to continue to perform in training. I’m a very humble person, quite relaxed and I just try to work as hard as I can because I know how great this opportunity is, so hopefully I can continue to do that.
“Jermain Defoe is very inspirational and he helps me all the time in training. It’s great to have someone who has been in the game for that long to work alongside and help me in each session.”
Maja, who grew up in Pimlico and trained with Kinetic last season, added: “Sam Allardyce is a great manager.
“He has a lot of experience so it’s amazing to have been given a chance to show him what I can do in training and hopefully I can continue to do that.”
Maja scored six league goals before suffering a back injury in November, and the video of his outrageous assist in a 3-1 defeat of Manchester United went viral.
But after making an impressive return from injury, he will soon be hoping to follow in the footsteps of youngsters Duncan Watmore, Jordan Pickford and Lynden Gooch who have all made their first team debuts in the last 12 months.