Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore joined Gateshead on loan in January as he looks for regular game-time in the National League.
Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore has moved on ‘mentally and physically’ from the injury nightmare that has decimated the early years of his professional career.
The 21-year-old agreed to join National League club Gateshead on loan in January and is part of a Heed squad that are in the midst of a remarkable bid to avoid relegation this season - but the final weeks of the campaign are about more than on-field results for Moore. The forward suffered a serious knee injury in March 2023 and spent the vast majority of the following two years undertaking a painstaking rehabilitation and recovery as he gradually worked his way back towards full fitness.
Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore is currently on loan at Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan)placeholder image
Sunderland youngster Ethan Moore is currently on loan at Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan) | Jack McGraghan
After 887 days on the sidelines, Moore made his comeback for Sunderland’s Under-21s when he replaced Felix Scott for the final half-hour of a 3-2 defeat at Southampton in August and went on to make a further 17 appearances across a number of competitions during the first half of the campaign. A loan move to Gateshead offered an opportunity to take another step forwards and Moore has gone on to make seven appearances for Rob Elliot’s side, with the latest coming as a substitute in a stunning 3-1 home win against National League title contenders York City on Tuesday night.
Speaking after the game, Moore reflected on his lengthy injury lay-off and expressed his determination to continue impressing on the south bank of the Tyne.
He told The Echo: “I am definitely moving towards where I want to be. I just need to play football and after missing two years, it was quite difficult but training with the lads I feel sharp and when I come on I feel I am adding something to the game and I can get back to my best. The thing with a big injury is it’s more mental than physical when you are coming back. You have doubts. How will it feel when you’re playing and things like that but I know my knee is strong now, it is better and I am getting stronger with every minute that I play. I feel like I’ve moved on mentally and physically now and I’m just looking forwards.”
Targets
Ethan Moore in action for Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan)placeholder image
Ethan Moore in action for Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan) | Jack McGraghan
Moore’s loan move to Gateshead has offered the Black Cats prospect an opportunity to take his first steps into senior football and boost his comeback from his prolonged injury lay-off. There is also one eye on the future as the versatile forward approaches the final weeks of his contract with Sunderland and he remains keen to prove what he can offer as he moves on from a difficult period in his young career.
“I just want to play as many minutes as I can and show everyone what I can do,” he explained. “I want to get myself into the starting line-up but it’s just about playing as many games as I can. I have missed so much over the last two years and now I just want to enjoy it and show everyone what I can do.”
Massive
Gateshead celebrate during their 3-1 home win against York City (photo Emilio Kirtley)placeholder image
Gateshead celebrate during their 3-1 home win against York City (photo Emilio Kirtley) | Emilio Kirtley
Tuesday night’s win against a York side containing Academy of Light graduate Ethan Moore has boosted the mood at the International Stadium and there is now genuine belief Gateshead can remain in non-league football’s top tier for another season. That is a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after they were sitting 11 points from safety as recently as six weeks ago before a run of just two defeats in their last 11 games has taken them outside of the relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s home clash with fellow strugglers Yeovil Town.
“It’s a massive win. The form we are in at the moment is really good but we need to keep going. That win should set the tone because York are right up there in the table but we have shown we can compete with these teams and we have done so well. I knew from the first training session that the lads were a very good standard and I knew we could get the job done and make sure we stay up.”
Non-League Day
Gateshead manager Rob Elliot (photo Emilio Kirtley)placeholder image
Gateshead manager Rob Elliot (photo Emilio Kirtley) | Emilio Kirtley
This weekend will mark the annual Non-League Day initiative as clubs across the country look to take advantage of the international break by attracting Premier League and EFL fans to their games. Saturday’s home game with Yeovil will prove to be another major test for Moore and his Heed team-mates as they look to move further towards preserving their National League status. The Gateshead FC Supporters Society have set a target of achieving an attendance of 2,000 and the club have agreed to reduce ticket prices by up to 20%. Moore is hopeful some Sunderland fans will make their way to the International Stadium and get behind his side in their bid for survival.
When asked if he had a message for Black Cats supporters, he said: “If you come down you’ll see good quality. We need that support here because we still have a lot of work to do so it would be great to see supporters getting down here on Saturday and getting behind us.”
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