TOM BEADLING is determined to ensure that his involvement on Sunderland’s recent tour of North America does not turn out to be his only taste of senior action this season.

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Beadling was one of three academy players selected for the Black Cats’ three-game trip to the United States and Canada, with the highlight of his involvement coming in the final match of the tour as he played for the final 45 minutes of the 2-1 win over MLS side Toronto FC.

The 19-year-old Wearsider, who first joined Sunderland’s academy at the age of eight, is regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the development squad at the Academy of Light, along with forward Duncan Watmore, who also travelled to North America.

Dick Advocaat is hoping the teenager will develop sufficiently to provide some senior defensive cover this season, with Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Sebastian Coates all having suffered from injury problems in the not-too-distant past.

His pre-season performances suggest he is ready to make a permanent step out of the academy ranks, and while it might aid his development to spend some time on loan in the Football League next season, he is determined to do all he can to secure a regular place in Sunderland’s senior squad.

“The hard work starts now because I want to stay in the mix and experience more,” said Beadling, who played for Plains Farm before joining Sunderland’s youth set-up, and briefly emigrated to Australia with his family, only to return to the UK and rejoin the Black Cats. “I will keep working hard, keep my head down, and see what happens.

“I loved every minute of the experience (of the North American tour). It was different to what I’ve experienced before, but I settled in well and enjoyed it.

“There is a lot of experience in the squad, and I picked up new things every day, on and off the pitch. Getting minutes under my belt was great because that is what pre-season is all about, but to get them in the first team was even better and I felt I grew into the games.”

* Sunderland have sold out their allocation of more than 3,000 tickets for the opening game of the Premier League season at Leicester City on August 8.