Roker Roundup: Burnley striker has loan cut short so he can join Sunderland on trial

Premier League striker joins on trial

Sunderland have taken Burnley striker Will Harris on trial as they look to strengthen the development squad.

The club have already had the likes of Tyler Frost (Reading), Tyler Hamilton (Hull City) and West Bromwich Albion trio Stan Asomugha, Kevin Healy and Sam Wilding on trial of late, and Harris will become the latest prospect to attempt to earn a deal ahead of next season.

Harris has spent the majority of the season out on loan, first with Colne FC of Northern Premier League North West, where the 19-year-old scored nine goals in 12 games before being recalled by Burnley and being sent higher up the ladder where he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Warrington Town.

His loan with the Yellows ended prematurely on Friday so he could head to the Academy of Light for his trial spell, according to Warrington Worldwide.

Potter on why McNulty’s move to Sunderland failed

Marc McNulty had his loan spell with Sunderland cut short by parent club Reading in January so the striker could link up with Jack Ross at Hibernian.

The Scottish international has hit the ground running at Easter Road, scoring four goals in four games, but he was never able to establish himself at Sunderland.

Former Sunderland coach John Potter, who is now Ross’s number two at Hibs, has explained why it did not quite work out for McNulty at the Stadium of Light.

Potter explained to the Daily Record that the player had an injury that he could not shift early in his Sunderland career which hampered his progress and believes the system Phil Parkinson has implemented just did not suit the 27-year-old:

We signed Marc for Sunderland and he started really well with myself and Jack there.

He trained well, started a few games and scored a few goals. But he had a little problem with his hamstring and I’m not sure we quite got to the bottom of that, which made it a little stop start during our time there.

But he still played matches and contributed when he was fit.

I think, with the change of manager down there, he was in and out a little bit - and then the manager settled on a formation that didn’t quite suit Marc.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

New club for Robson

Sunderland academy product Josh Robson has found himself a new club, signing a two-year deal with Norwegian second flight outfit Bryne FK.

Robson joined fellow OBOS league side Notodden after his release by Sunderland and played 47 games over the course of two seasons.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images