Liverpool starlet determined to make an impact on Wearside
Ovie Ejaria took a massive risk when he joined Sunderland on deadline day in January.
After a successful summer with the England under 20’s the former Arsenal youth player who is well liked and highly rated by manager Jurgen Klopp, he could have coasted through the season at Liverpool under 23’s.
Ejaria however, wanted the challenge of first team football, and it’s difficult to think of a more challenging experience than the one he’ll be currently facing. Sunderland are rooted to the bottom of the championship and relegation to the third tier of English football seems inevitable.
However Ejaria is keen no matter the outcome of Sunderland’s season to leave Wearside on a high. “At Liverpool, at the beginning of the season, we were doing well with the 23's and sitting top of the league, winning loads, then I came here and it’s been a lot different, coming into a relegation battle.
“It’s a test mentally for anyone, definitely, particularly when you are young. Hopefully we can turn it round because there are games left to achieve what we need to. “Possibly it can still have a happy ending here for me. If we can get the wins until the end of the season then it will be one to look back on as a good experience. Even if it doesn’t go well between now and then it will still have been a big learning curve.”
The youngster originally from London admitted that he had other options in the winter window, but after speaking to his family and Liverpool manager Klopp he made the decision to move temporarily to the North East. He even admits fellow Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn was a key part of his decision to move to the Black Cats.
“I spoke to Ben Woodburn a little before I came here, I had seen what Chris Coleman had done with him at Wales. It is clear he is willing to give young players an opportunity. I had seen what he did with Ben and Wales, it wasn’t just Ben either, there were others also. It was a big factor in coming here.
“I will benefit from this and I am focused on trying to help the team and performing well here. If I keep doing my best then maybe we will get the points we need to stay up. I can do better personally, I know that, I just want to keep working and hopefully I will get better.”
Credit to The Sun for the imagery used in this article.
Credit to The Northern Echo for quotes used in this article.