Adam Richardson’s loan to Hebburn Town, according to Robin Nicholls, gives the young goalie a “good opportunity.”
Richardson has joined non-league Hebburn Town on a one-month contract, following the Echo’s previous summer claim that Sunderland was seeking for a loan. Richardson will join the Hornets ahead of their Northern Premier League match against Lancaster City on Saturday.
The 20-year-old was slated to join the senior goalkeeping group behind Nathan Bishop and first-choice Anthony Patterson after playing for Sunderland during the preseason under Tony Mowbray last season. However, he suffered an injury toward the conclusion of the previous summer.
Before Richardson suffered yet another injury in February, Sunderland was planning to send the goalkeeper on a loan to the National League after he had fully recovered. Following his second comeback, Richardson was crucial to Graeme Murty’s under-21 team’s victory over Tottenham in the Premier League 2 play-off final.
“This gives Adam a great opportunity to get some match minutes at a good level of senior football,” stated Nicholls, the academy manager at Sunderland. He will continue to train with us primarily in accordance with the U21 program while assimilating with Hebburn.”
With England’s top goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and current first-choice Anthony Patterson, Sunderland has a strong goalkeeping tradition. After spending time in the National League at Notts County, Patterson, who is only 24 years old, has made 128 appearances for Sunderland.
Matty Young, another of Sunderland’s highly regarded goalkeepers, is presently on loan at League Two team Salford City of the EFL. Richardson will practice with Sunderland’s under-21 team while on loan, and he may start for Hebburn Town this coming weekend.
