Sunderland defender Zak Johnson has reflected on last season’s loans at Hartlepool United and Dundalk, adding that he wants to play for the Black Cats’ first team.
The 19-year-old joined Dundalk in Ireland during 2023-24 and has impressed at the club. The centre-back recently helped Dundalk to an eighth-consecutive home clean sheet, a club record.
After making his debut in the 0-0 draw with Waterford last March, the Sunderland defender has become an integral part of the back four and has featured in every game of the record-breaking run.
Johnson was also named the 1903 Dundalk FC Supporters Club Player of the Month while and is among six players nominated for the Soccer Writers of Ireland Player of the Month award for May ahead of his return to Sunderland this summer.
“I won the March and April supporters’ Player of the Month and then I got nominated for the league Player of the Month in May and these things are just kind of what I’ve believed I can do with myself.
“For me, the message that I’m giving in my head is I’m not a 19-year-old anymore, I need to mature and I need to forget about my age almost.
The England youth international was involved in pre-season under Tony Mowbray last summer and played for the first team in the Carabao Cup against Crewe Alexandra. Before his stint at Dundalk, Johnson was loaned out to Hartlepool United in the National League, where he made 11 appearances in the league. Johnson, however, noe hoped to use his experiences to push for a place in Sunderland’s first team under new head coach Régis Le Bris.
