IF Joe Gelhardt lowered the average age of the current Sunderland side still further at The Den, the on-loan debutant was quick to point out that youth does not necessarily equate to a lack of leadership.

Of the 16 Black Cats players who survived the battle of The Den, only four were older than 22, the average age which was pushed up by considerably by 32-year-old Danny Batth and Alex Pritchard, 29.

Gelhardt himself is still just 20 having made his debut for Wigan in 2019 as a 16-year-old.

He said: “All the lads have been class and welcoming since I joined. They’re all good people as well as good players. It’s a young dressing room but I think there’s a few young leaders in there, who lead the team.

“As a young player myself, it’s good to see a manager trusting young players and with the style of play here, it’s exciting and something I’d like to be a part of.”

Without naming his other suitors, Gelhardt admitted that a number of other clubs were interested in taking him for the rest of the season when parent club Leeds made him available for loan last week.

A conversation with Tony Mowbray quickly persuaded him to call the Stadium of Light home for the next three months.

Gelhardt added: “I didn’t know much about it until late on. I heard there were a few clubs interested and a few I could choose from but I met the manager here, he told me about the project and that was it.

“As soon as I had the conversation, I knew I wanted to come here. I’m happy with the decision. It’s a great club with big ambitions and all the young players get a chance so I think it’s perfect for me. The move for me is to play minutes and get game time, but we’re not too far off the play-offs, iso t would be stupid not to aim to get the club to the Premier League. Why not?

“At Leeds, the fans help you ten times more in a game. They give you a chance in the game when sometimes you may think you’re down and out and it was exactly the same with the Sunderland fans."

Match analysis - Page 45