Michael Beale 'a very talented coach,' says Sunderland under-21s boss

Michael Beale has had a glowing endorsement from a former Rangers colleague who is now on the Sunderland coaching staff.

Sunderland have appointed a ‘very talented coach’ in Michael Beale, according to under-21s boss Graeme Murty.

Murty was part of the Rangers set up when Michael Beale was there under alongside Steven Gerrard, meaning he has some insight on the man the Wearsiders have hired to replace Tony Mowbray.

That appointment has not been met with much enthusiasm by Sunderland fans on social media, but Murty says the club have found themselves a real coaching talent.

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"I've worked with Michael at Rangers,” Murty said of Beale. “I've seen him as a member of staff there with Steven Gerrard

"He's a very detailed, very talented, coach who is very, very good on the grass.

"He's open and inclusive. He'll have clear ideas about what his team is going to be looking like and the identity of the team going forward, so it will be interesting to see how the first team players respond to it and how the team and the squad evolves."

For Murty, Beale’s appointment means he will return to his previous role with Sunderland’s under-21 side.

The Scotsman had stepped up to help Mike Dodds with the first team while the club searched for Tony Mowbray’s replacement, but there does not appear to be a permanent role for him there despite working with Beale before.

"I get to go back to the U21s and look after the group that I have had all year,” he said.

"That's been conveyed to me. I was really honoured to go up [to first team coach], thrilled to be a part of it, and it meant a lot to be asked.

"Hopefully I helped and I really enjoyed the experience [of working] with the first team. The players and staff were really welcoming and really open and I thoroughly enjoyed it."

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