LEE JOHNSON has acknowledged the good work being done by Sunderland’s academy after a number of the youngsters’ rise to the first-team picture.

Despite a lengthy injury list, the Black Cats turned in a strong display against Oxford United on Saturday which could easily have ended with three points instead of one.

The eventual 1-1 draw was achieved with a lack of senior options for Johnson to call on and the Sunderland bench was largely made up of rising talents.

Anthony Patterson, Elliot Embleton, Ollie Younger, Tyrese Dyce, Benji Kimpioka and Zak Johnson joined the more experienced Aiden O’Brien on the list of substitutes. Dan Neil started in midfield.

It is an encouraging sign for Sunderland’s academy, which has seen a number of gifted young players leave for higher-ranked teams in recent years.

Johnson said: “We are a club who have set our stall out to bring young players through. There’s been some outstanding performances this year, and at times the young lads have carried us because of the injuries to our senior players.

“That’s huge credit to the lads first and foremost. It has been a tricky period for the academy, a lot who would have featured at this time have been and gone but now we find ourselves supplementing the first team squad and we have to break through good young players.”

As well as the youngsters emerging from the academy system, Sunderland have also taken a decision to sign youth.

Callum Doyle, Nathan Broadhead and Leon Dajaku were all starters against Oxford and they have all impressed since arriving on loan from their respective clubs.

Dajaku, in particular, shone for much of the game against Oxford. Despite being asked to play as a wing-back initially he looked dangerous, worked hard and took his goal really well.

Johnson moved the German, on loan from Union Berlin, in the second half because of a change of shape and he will be weighing up what system to play against Morecambe tomorrow night.