Leeds United duo Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Cresswell have both congratulated Niall Huggins after his first professional goal on Wednesday night.
Gelhardt and Cresswell sent their responses on Huggins’ Instagram account as he expressed his delight at finding the net for Sunderland against Watford.
The Black Cats continued their fine run of form on Wednesday night to cement their position in the top six, beating the visitors 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.
Huggins was starting his fifth match in a row for Sunderland having now established himself as a regular member of Tony Mowbray’s back four.
Having graduated through Leeds’ academy, Huggins has struggled with injuries during his brief career so far but now finally appears to be finding his form in professional football.
Gelhardt and Cresswell congratulate Huggins
Both Gelhardt and Cresswell played alongside Huggins in Leeds’ U23s prior to his exit in 2021, with the former having also been at Sunderland on loan last season.
Huggins took his first professional goal in some style, dribbling through a host of Watford defenders before finishing excellently in the top corner, with Gelhardt and Cresswell among those to congratulate him.
It was always clear that Huggins had talent during his days in the U23s, and it was just a matter of getting over his injuries to show that in the professional game.
Marcelo Bielsa handed him his senior debut in a Premier League match away at Arsenal a few months before his departure, a game he did not look out of place in.
Alongside Jack Clarke, Sunderland now have two Leeds academy graduates in their side performing well and fighting for promotion.
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