Sunderland are locked in mid-table in the Championship with just three games of the season remaining but does that allow interim head coach Mike Dodds the opportunity to experiment with his side?

Sunderland are a club which constantly pushes youth and development since the changing of ownership at the Stadium of Light three years ago, with the club's under-21s pushing for a top-12 finish in the newly restructured Premier League 2. A top-12 finish will see them invited to compete in international cup competition next season - quite the transition from an academy team who failed to win a single game four years ago.

One of those players making a name for himself in the academy is winger Tom Watson - the 17-year-old scoring for a third straight game in the 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light on Monday while many will look to emulate the success of 16-year-old Chris Rigg who continues to impress in the first team set-up.

 

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But should Dodds use Sunderland's three remaining Championship games as an opportunity to assess some of the club's academy talent? Can they follow in the footsteps of Rigg and can Sunderland keep hold of the midfielder this summer? What of some of the other players out of contract at the Stadium of Light?

Joe Ramage is joined by Dom Shaw and Scott Wilson in the latest We Are Sunderland briefing to discuss all of that and more on the back of a successful week for Dodds and the first team having taken four points from a possible six away from home against Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

You can view our latest briefing below or via our YouTube channel.

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