Morecambe have added to their attack, although supporters at the Halo Aerospace Stadium may not see the new arrival for very long.
Morecambe Town Stadium
Morecambe Town Stadium
Morecambe have added to their attack, although supporters at the Halo Aerospace Stadium may not see the new arrival for very long.
The Shrimps confirmed on Friday that they had signed an 18 year old forward from Sunderland on a 28 day loan.
Sunderland’s own statement said the deal runs until 19 November, which gives Adam Lakeland a little under four weeks with the player before he is due back on Wearside.
Short loans like this are fairly common at non league level, especially for young players taking their first steps into men’s football as they let the parent club test the waters without committing a whole season.
For Morecambe, still adjusting to life in the National League North after relegation last season, it is a low risk way to add some youth and pace to the forward line.
Marcus Neill was just 10 when Liverpool won the race for his signature, beating Manchester United and Everton to bring him from Blackburn Rovers into the Anfield academy.
He stayed with the Reds until 2024, when he moved to Sunderland, and on Wearside he has kept scoring at every level.
Last season was his breakthrough year, as the forward scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in 30 appearances for Sunderland’s under 18s across all competitions, a return of 23 direct goal contributions.
The highlight was probably a hat trick against Everton in a 4–0 win at the Academy of Light.
It was enough to earn him his first professional contract in the summer, after the Sunderland Echo reported in May that talks had begun.
He has also had a taste of under 21 football, playing in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.
Morecambe say he can lead the line as a centre forward or play in the wider attacking positions, which should give Lakeland some options over the next month.
Some supporters will already recognise the name.
Marcus is the son of Lucas Neill, the former Australia captain who won 96 caps, played at two World Cups and spent years in the Premier League with Blackburn, West Ham and Everton.
Lucas almost joined Liverpool himself before choosing West Ham in 2007 and his son is now an Australian youth international too, though by most accounts he is keen to make his own name rather than live off his father’s.
Whether 28 days is long enough to make a real impression is another matter.
A handful of games in a physical, unforgiving league should tell Sunderland a fair bit about how ready he is for senior football.
If it goes well, an extension would not be a surprise.
If not, he heads back to the North East with some useful lessons learned.
Read more: PSG star “nearly” joined Liverpool
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