Sunderland AFC news: Ex-academy player returns after five months out following serious car accident

The former Sunderland youngster was involved in a serious road traffic collision back in June as a rear passenger in a car in Manchester. The defender was taken to hospital with serious head injuries but thankfully pulled through to make a full recovery.

Almond returned to the pitch for the first time since the crash last weekend. The ex-Blyth Spartans loanee played 90 minutes for Shildon AFC in the Northern Premier League Division One East.

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Posting on Twitter, Patrick’s dad, Kevin, posted: “Things you love to see on a Saturday The big lad (Paddy Almond) getting 90 mins in the tank, for Shildon. 6 months since last played. 5 months since the accident. 4 1/2 months of non-stop training. Well done son, credit to yourself and never let it get you down.”

Almond, 19 is a product of Sunderland's academy system and joined the club when he was just 11, cementing himself as a regular starter in the club’s youth teams.

The defender was in and around Sunderland’s first team for the Papa John’s Trophy and was an unused first-team substitute for the games against Fleetwood Town and Lincoln City.

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After being an unused substitute the week before in the same competition, Almond made his senior professional debut in the Papa John’s Trophy in the 2-1 win over Manchester United under-23s at the Stadium of Light.

Almond then enjoyed a loan spell at Blyth Spartans before being released by Sunderland at the end of the 2021-22 season.