Aaron Connolly is set to make his Sunderland debut against his former team, Hull City, this weekend. Under-21s coach Graeme Murty anticipates a successful season for Connolly.
Sunderland coach Graeme Murty has hailed Aaron Connolly as a ‘very good finisher’ as he once against sparkled for the under-21s.
Connolly signed with Sunderland as a free agent in September following the summer and is expected to face his former club Hull in the Championship on Sunday.
In the meantime, the ex-Brighton player has been working on his fitness with the under-21 team, playing in their match against Huddersfield this week.
Connolly impressed once again, netting two goals and bringing his total to three in two games for Murty’s side.
However, Murty noted that Connolly’s impact extends beyond just his goals, highlighting the Irishman’s leadership and positive influence on younger players.
“He leads by example, offers advice, and isn’t afraid to hold others accountable if standards drop, which is great,” Murty said. “He’s an excellent finisher, and we see that in training too. He was disappointed to come off; he was meant to exit at 60 minutes but stayed until the 70th – he wanted to keep playing.”
Murty praised Connolly’s attitude as a valuable example for younger players.
Since joining Sunderland, Connolly has courageously spoken about his struggles with alcohol during his career and emphasized his commitment to seizing the opportunity at Sunderland to revitalize his career.
He was on the bench for Sunderland’s last match against Leeds before the international break, though coach Regis Le Bris had stated beforehand it was more about helping him integrate into the squad rather than playing.
Connolly is now a strong contender to feature against Hull, but Sunderland’s competition for attacking spots is fierce, with Eliezer Mayenda set to return from a minor injury and Wilson Isidor expected to continue after scoring twice in three Championship matches during the Spaniard’s absence.
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