Sunderland hot prospect sets out loan targets after Celtic Park debut

Kilmarnock's Oli Bainbridge
-Credit: (Image: SNS Group)


Oli Bainbridge made his loan debut for Kilmanock in front of 60,000 fans at Celtic Park – not something you might expect of a player coming out of an academy. The 19-year-old Sunderland defender had a slightly different baptism on his loan move than most players would experience.

Playing away to champions Celtic was a big deal for the youngster who moved away from the Stadium of Light to broaden his horizons. The summer switch has paid off so far and Bainbridge told the Sunderland website: “It was a no-brainer for me to go and get that experience in first-team football.

“I signed on the Friday, travelled to meet the team on the Saturday and the manager just asked me how I’d feel going straight in for the league opener against Celtic. “I obviously said ‘yes’. The defeat was disappointing, but the experience was one I’ll cherish forever. It was the noise that shocked me. You always know it will be a good atmosphere, but it takes you a few minutes to adjust and focus on the game.”

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The new opportunities continued for the full-back with the Killies’ involvement in the Europe Conference League qualifying fixtures. Despite being eventually knocked out by Copenhagen, Bainbridge experienced European football in both Norway and Denmark.

“It is one of those things at the end of my career where I can say, I played in Europe,” he continued. “Not many players fresh out of an academy get to say that. I am loving every minute. The club have been good to me, helping me settle into new surroundings and being away from home for the first time.

“I want to come back to Sunderland at the end of this spell as a better all-round player and person. This experience allows me to gain an understanding of the foundations of senior football. The hope is that all this learning will put me in good stead to fight for a place with the first-team next season.”