Introducing Callum Doyle - Sunderland loanee, 17, tipped to be England captain

Manchester City youngster Callum Doyle has been tipped to become a future England captain.

The bold claim was made by Bailey Wright, a teammate of Doyle's at Sunderland this season. The 17-year-old left City in the summer to spend the current campaign with the Black Cats and has already made quite the impression.

He's made 11 appearances for Sunderland so far this season.

Wright, 12 years Doyle's senior, said of the loanee and his fellow young players: "They are only at the start of their careers, some of them, so you think, 'I can't wait until I'm retired on my sofa one day and Callum Doyle is captain of England!'

Aged just 17, Callum Doyle has won plenty of plaudits on loan at Sunderland

"You think of things like that.

"You can't tell him that, actually you could. He is that humble of a lad.

"I hadn't really seen him or the others play that often (before they arrived) so you are kind of just trusting the people that are paid to do that job in recruitment.

"Our job as players is just to focus day-to-day on the football pitch, in the dressing room, and to allow them to be their best. I think they have probably been better than anyone expected.

"I think expectations aside, they are just good lads who set high standards every day so it's enjoyable when you have lads like that to work next to. They ask questions, they want to learn and will give suggestions."

Doyle is highly-rated at City and it is thought a season in League One will be a huge boost to his development.

Lee Johnson, Sunderland manager, is a big fan also.

Earlier this season, after watching Doyle against Wigan, he claimed the teenager possessed the best passing ability across the whole of the third tier.

Callum Doyle has won silverware at youth level for parent club Manchester City

Johnson said: "You're never sure how these lads are going to react - the legs can turn to jelly, they can get a little elbow and suddenly they crumble.

"But Callum grew in stature as the game went on and his passing ability is already, in my opinion, the best in the division.

"Even today he didn't get as many line-cutting passes as he normally would, but you saw two or three diags that were weighty and full of quality."

Despite his rapid progress, yesterday wasn't a day to remember for Doyle or his temporary employers.

Sunderland were beaten 4-0 away at Portsmouth and dropped to second in the table as a result.