Lee Cattermole praises former Sunderland youngster after Gateshead debut | OneFootball

Former Sunderland youngster Lavery drew praise from Lee Cattermole after making his Gateshead bow in a pre-season win.

Lavery delivered a composed display at centre-back. “Tommy did well, he did well. He has come into a new environment and he’s still settling in but he’s settling in well.” He was speaking to Sunderland Echo.

The 20-year-old signed a two-year deal at the International Stadium last month as Cattermole’s first recruit as manager, then joined pre-season training last week. He came on at half-time in Tuesday’s friendly at Northern League club Blyth Town, as Cattermole’s reign began with a 6-0 victory at Gateway Park.

Newly appointed first-team coach Martin Smith, another former Sunderland academy player who featured alongside Lynden Gooch and George Honeyman at the Academy of Light, was handed an unexpected start in Northumberland.

Cattermole explained: “If you’ve got a coach on the staff that can still play, and Martin definitely can, it’s an opportunity to play and let him feel what we are working on in training. The lads know that he is first-team coach, he’s not in a dual role here.”

Source: Sunderland Echo