Sunderland must not be left with Bali Mumba regrets

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Sunderland have sent young midfielder Bali Mumba out on loan to Northern Premier League side South Shields on loan until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old will now be tasked with helping The Mariners in their table-topping bid to win promotion to the National League North. 

But the teenager’s drop down to play in the seventh-tier of English football should certainly come as something of a surprise. 

Mumba started the opening game of the 2018-19 season for Sunderland and put in an impressive performance in the heart of midfield. Aged just 16, it was a display that had fans raving. 

Then-Sunderland boss played Mumba due to Lee Cattermole’s transfer situation and an injury to new recruit Dylan McGeouch. After the game, as reported by The Shields Gazette, Mumba was praised highly by the Black Cats boss.

“Bali Mumba wasn’t a risk for me. It maybe was seen as a gamble, he was playing because we had limited options. He deserved to play…

“…He has a brilliant future ahead of him. He will get better, he is a really good lad and wants to learn, he should be very proud of his performance.

“To do that, at that age, was terrific.”

It also had other clubs looking on enviously. As reported by The Sun, both Manchester City and Chelsea were interested in a potential £2.5 million move for the teen sensation. 

But since then, Mumba has struggled to break back into the first-team on Wearside. The England under-19 international has played just one game for Sunderland this season, an EFL Trophy match against Grimsby Town in October. 

It seems Sunderland have not decided on Mumba’s best position, with the youngster regularly playing both at right-back or in central midfield. 

Simply put, it appears Mumba’s initial first-team progression was merely out of necessity and he is now back in the position a teenage talent should be, playing regular under-23 football and now embarking on a loan spell.

In the grand scheme, an 18-year-old heading out on loan in this manner should not be shocking news. But considering Mumba’s early promise and wonderkid status, it has certainly caused quite a stir. 

Sunderland fans will just be hoping this precocious talent can find his way back to the level that had him in the crosshairs of the Premier League elite. If so, then Mumba could become a future first-team star at the Stadium of Light.