Gateshead manager Rob Elliot keen on permanent deal for Sunderland youngster | OneFootball

Gateshead manager Rob Elliot wants a permanent deal for Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore after the forward’s positive loan spell with the National League side.

“Ethan has been absolutely superb and we know he’s had a really difficult time with injuries. He didn’t really play a lot of football before he came into Gateshead. The temptation is to start him because he’s had such brilliant impact over the last few games - but he is still learning the game, he’s getting his fitness levels back and he was brilliant when he came on against Carlisle but you can still see he is lacking a little bit of match fitness, which is a scary thing,” he told Sunderland Echo.

The 21-year-old returned from over two years out with a serious knee injury with a substitute outing for Sunderland Under-21s in a 3-2 defeat to Southampton last August. He then made several academy appearances before joining Gateshead on loan in February for his first senior football.

Since a 1-0 debut loss at Boston United, Gateshead have been transformed. They have suffered only two defeats in 14, now eight points clear of the drop, and will secure safety with at least two points from the final three games.

Moore’s minutes have come from the bench, though he featured prominently across the Bank Holiday double header that yielded four points at Carlisle United and against Scunthorpe United. He hopes to earn a first start as the Heed visit Aldershot Town and Altrincham, with Jermain Defoe’s Woking in between.

Source: Sunderland Echo