AT the beginning of last season, Finn Geragusyan was playing for Sunderland's Under-16s.
But after a rapid rise over the course of the last 18 months or so, now, despite the fact he's still only 17, the Armenia youth international has played his way into the club's Under-21s set-up - and continued his impressive progress with a double for Graeme Murty's side this week.
Geragusyan hit a brace as the young Black Cats beat Leeds United 3-0 in the Premier League 2 clash at Eppleton on Monday night.
Captain Harrison Jones, fresh, from his Championship debut for the Sunderland first team last month, was also on target for Murty's side.
But the headline grabber was Geragusyan, whose development is delighting Murty.
"We are pleased with his progress," said the Under-21s boss.
"He still has lots to do and he's a very young man, so we don't necessarily expect as much from him as we do the older ones.
"We expect them to support him and we except him to be eager and hungry to learn. And I think you can see that in his performances."
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Murty says the likes of Geragusyan and fellow young striker Trey Ogunsuyi, who was linked with Liverpool earlier this season, know that if they continue to progress and display the right attitude and approach, first team opportunities will follow down the line.
Senior defender Joe Anderson and Harrison, who has broken into the first team fold over the course of the last year, were involved in Geragusyan's second goal against Leeds, and Murty said: "You have a first team player winning the ball back for us, an Under-21 who's been on the bench for the first team assisting him then you have a first year scholar scoring. If that doesn't show the pathway in our football club, I don't know what does.
"We want to make sure the pathway is tangible: if you perform you'll get an opportunity.
"Look at Tommy (Watson) and Chris Rigg in the first team. We have a real leg up to show the young players, if you put in the hard work and commit to the learning journey the rewards are there for you.
"It takes a hell of a lot of hard work but it really is there for you."
Geragusyan, who was recently called up the play for Armenia's Under-19s, said: "I'm very happy with how things are going, I'm definitely enjoying it here with the Under-21s."
