ONE can't speak a word of English, the other is being kept firmly under wraps to protect his precocious talent.
But a 20-year-old striker from Jeju in South Korea and a first-year professional from Newcastle are making some of the biggest noise at Sunderland’s Barsinghausen training base this week.
Ji Dong-Won’s arrival from the Chunnam Dragons was one of the more low-profile of Steve Bruce’s extensive recruitment drive but already, his attitude and ability are raising eyebrows among red-and-white staff.
And Louis Laing – an 18-year-old who was pulled from England under-age duty to join Sunderland’s German jaunt – is reportedly the stand-out defender on the training pitches.
Not a bad accolade considering the breadth of experience and ability brought in by Bruce over the summer months.
Ji, a £2million arrival recommended to Bruce by new chief scout Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson, certainly has ability. Scouted by several Premier League rivals, including North East neighbours Newcastle, there has been a buzz around him for months, but it was Sunderland – buoyed by several positive reports – who took the plunge.
It is a decision that arrived with risks but the early portents are positive. His link-up play and incisive movement as he made his Sunderland bow at the Schüco Arena on Sunday bore testament to that.
But it is the way he is prepared to give as much as he gets that has caused most optimism. For while he is shy and respectful off the pitch, little seems to have held him back in the fortnight he has been in England so far.
In short, he already has the makings of a typical busy, bustling Premier League striker – not easily brushed off the ball and able to hold up play too.
“I thought he looked terrific in the first half of the Arminia Bielefeld game – absolutely terrific,” Bruce told The Journal in Germany. “His movement, link-up play and everything was terrific. We’ve been very quietly impressed with him during the week of training so far.”
It is a view endorsed by Anton Ferdinand, who files a progress report that is just as encouraging. “We’ve all been impressed with him in training. It’s a big step to come from another part of the world but he announced himself straight away,” said the defender.
And then there is Laing. Maybe not quite ready for Premier League battle, although he has figured in both friendlies so far, he has long been seen as the ‘next cab off the rank’ at the Academy of Light. An elegant player, he has added brawn to the talents that first encouraged Sunderland to take a chance on him as a young teenager.
