'The route to the first team is the biggest problem'
Nick Barnes, Marco Gabbiadini and Simon Pryde have been discussing Sunderland's academy on BBC Radio Newcastle and how the under 23s and first team have supported one another this season. A number of the under-21s squad have been used on the bench in the Premier League this campaign, including the Jones brothers - Jaydon and Jensen - and Jack Whittock. But Gabbiadini believes the likelihood of the academy players breaking through into the first team now that Sunderland are in the Premier League for another season is slimmer.
"The route to the first team is the biggest problem for any young player," the former Black Cats striker said. "Many of them have been on the bench this season, but will they have many on the bench next season? "I'm not knocking the lads, but that has been a big difference between us and a lot of teams this season.
"It depends on recruitment this summer and it depends on Regis le Bris' core squad, how it's fleshed out in the summer and the quality he brings into that. " Listen to the conversation on BBC Sounds or hit play above