Sunderland finally ended their unwanted stay in the third tier of English football earlier this year as they won promotion to the Championship.
Alex Neil led the club to glory via the play-offs to return to the second division for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign, beating Wycombe in the final at Wembley.
Following promotion, the Black Cats waved goodbye to a few players who served them well during their spell in League One and wing wizard Aiden McGeady was one of them.
The Republic of Ireland international had been at the Stadium of Light since 2017 and enjoyed himself on the pitch as he racked up goals and assists over his five years on Wearside.
He produced 36 goals and 34 assists in 149 games in all competitions for the club and 18 of those assists came in his last 43 League One outings.
McGeady was a magician on the ball, capable of creating opportunities for his teammates, and he had the quality to chip in with goals of his own from a left-wing position.
Tony Mowbray could now unearth the heir to the Irishman by dipping into the U21 set-up to unleash young winger Michael Spellman, who has “impressed” the Chronicle’s James Hunter.
The 19-year-old officially joined the club in the summer after a successful trial. He had caught Sunderland’s after impressing in non-league last season, managing an eye-catching 19 goals in 23 games for Chester-le-Street United.
His form last term shows that he has the potential to be a goalscorer from out wide and, since arriving at the Stadium of Light, he has also shown that he has the eye for a pass – like McGeady.
In three Premier League 2 matches this term, Spellman has racked up four assists for the club’s youth team and this suggests that he has the scope to develop into a winger with the ability to regularly create goals for others.
Does Michael Spellman deserve a chance?
Of course, he must now prove that he can make a significant impact in the final third in the professional game and that is why Mowbray must give him a real opportunity to show what he can do.
The gem was handed a first-team squad number last month and he was given his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, although it ended in a 2-0 defeat for the club. He played 10 minutes in the match and had nine touches of the ball, as he enjoyed his first taste of senior football with Sunderland.
10 minutes in a cup game whilst 2-0 down is a difficult situation for a teenage winger to show what he is all about and that is why Mowbray should look to unleash him, off the bench, in a Championship match or two.
Give him a platform to show off his quality on the ball and see if he can be the next McGeady racing down the left wing to score and assist goals for the Black Cats.
