Former Sunderland youngster praised by Lee Cattermole after Gateshead debut | OneFootball

Lee Cattermole praised former Sunderland youngster Lavery after the defender impressed on debut, coming on at half-time in a 6-0 win at Northern League side Blyth Town as his Gateshead reign began.

The 20-year-old signed a two-year deal last month as Cattermole's first signing and joined the Heed when pre-season began last week. "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's six days into the new environment and it's up to us to help him," said Cattermole, speaking to Sunderland Echo.

"He's a great size, he's had a great pedigree down at Sunderland and everything we heard before bringing him in was positive."

Newly appointed first-team coach Martin Smith, another former Sunderland academy player, was handed an unexpected start. "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."

"We have an added bonus having Smudge like that. The lads know that he is first-team coach, he's not in a dual role here."

Source: Sunderland Echo