Tom Beadling is aiming high after being involved with the Sunderland first team during their American adventure, and is hoping to shine in the Premier League in the coming years. The Sunderland-born 19-year-old joined the academy when he was an 8-year-old but now his time is fast approaching, and he's determined to be ready to answer the call if boss Dick Advocaat shows faith in his ability. However, Beadling knows he is a long way off regular top flight football, and the challenges are numerous, with four accomplished defenders ahead of him in the pecking order. He told The Northern Echo: The hard work starts now because I want to stay in the mix and experience more. I will keep working hard, keep my head down, and see what happens. I loved every minute of the experience (of the North American tour). It was different to what Ive experienced before, but I settled in well and enjoyed it. There is a lot of experience in the squad, and I picked up new things every day, on and off the pitch. Getting minutes under my belt was great because that is what pre-season is all about, but to get them in the first team was even better and I felt I grew into the games. It will be a welcome sight for Black Cats' fans to see young talent being touted for important roles, with so many hyped-up starlets failing to be given a chance in red and white, with Jordan Henderson and Jack Colback being the two notable exceptions.