AMSTERDAM – Recent Sunderland debutant Lynden Gooch was named the Barclays Under-21 Player of the Month for August on Friday morning.
The United States U-20 international opened the new junior Black Cats season by scoring in each of their first three league matches, with an assist thrown in for good measure. Gooch then worked a 32-minute debut in Sunderland's Capital One Cup win over Exeter City on August 25 and dressed for an EPL game four days later.
"It's great," Gooch told the club website of the recognition. "When I saw Duncan [Watmore] win the award last year I really wanted to get one of my own, so I'm buzzing.
"I've had a great start. Last season was frustrating for me because I had a few injuries, so it was important to get off to a good start this year. I came back really fit for preseason, which I think has really paid off."
