---
title: "Sunderland: Fans react to Josh Hawkes performance"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-josh-hawkes-league-one-lee-johnson-premier-league-2-reading-stadium-of-light/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Sunderland News"
published: "2021-04-27T11:10:13Z"
modified: "2021-04-27T11:10:13Z"
---

# Sunderland: Fans react to Josh Hawkes performance

**Many Sunderland fans have been waxing lyrical about Josh Hawkes after he scored once again for the club’s under-23 side.**

The Black Cats youngsters were in action against Reading on Monday, with Hawkes selected in the starting line-up. It didn’t take him long to have an impact on the match, first [providing the assist](https://twitter.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1386653932638908420) for Dan Neil to score the opener before [putting Sunderland back in front](https://twitter.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1386656887706431489) before 20 minutes were even on the clock.

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Hawkes has been in stunning form in Premier League 2, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 18 matches in the competition ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/josh-hawkes/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/488416)). The result means the Wearside outfit are up to sixth place in Group Two with two matches remaining ([FlashScore](https://www.flashscore.com/football/england/premier-league-2/standings/)) – promotion to Group One is not out of the equation.

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Sunderland’s official Twitter account provided updates of the match, and many of the club’s fans were delighted with Hawkes’ crucial involvements. One called for him to be partnered with the [prolific](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/charlie-wyke/leistungsdaten/spieler/163535) Charlie Wyke in Lee Johnson’s first team, while another dubbed him a “lower league Lampard” in reference to the former Chelsea maestro, who also had a reputation for [scoring regularly from midfield](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/frank-lampard/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/3163).

These Black Cats fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the 22-year-old.

### **Let’s see what the fans had to say about Hawkes below**

**“Lower League Lampard.”**

Credit: [@RoGairReport](https://twitter.com/RoGairReport/status/1386657798482714625)

**“Get him in the first team”**

Credit: [@PazzaSAFC](https://twitter.com/PazzaSAFC/status/1386657671386894336)

**“****He’s on another level @LeeJohnsonCoach** **get him in the first team.”**

Credit: [@bamgboyeolu](https://twitter.com/bamgboyeolu/status/1386658061302091782)

**“Stick him beside Wyke I beg”**

Credit: [@MannixKnows](https://twitter.com/MannixKnows/status/1386657887934717953)

**“This guy is on another level. Get him in first team”**

Credit: [@JoeMcNa36001719](https://twitter.com/JoeMcNa36001719/status/1386657431380451328)

**“Surely has to be in the first team banging them in every week”**

Credit: [@JaiOliver5](https://twitter.com/JaiOliver5/status/1386656980186583043)

***In other news, [many Sunderland fans reacted to this statement from the club.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/sunderland-the-black-cats-stadium-of-light-lee-johnson-social-media-boycott/)***