Sunderland teenager Finlay Holcroft has revealed the shock experience of learning from first-team stars at the Academy of Light. The youngster has become a regular for Sunderland's under-21s this season, making 40 appearances across all competitions and playing 3,176 minutes. Holcroft has praised Luke O'Nien's influence, saying the defender regularly offers advice to young players during training sessions. He also praised Granit Xhaka's welcoming nature, saying it's a 'crazy feeling' seeing the player shake his hand in the morning. Holcroft has enjoyed a significant season in his own development, progressing from under-18 football into regular under-21 involvement while still being eligible for the younger age group. His workload underlines the trust Sunderland have placed in him, with the defender featuring across Premier League 2, the Premier League Cup, the FA Youth Cup, the National League Cup and the Premier League International Cup. Holcroft has praised the team's effort, saying they've all come together and learned loads, and they really kicked on in the second half of the season.