Jack Diamond is looking forward to facing Harrogate Town this weekend - less than a month after helping Simon Weaver's side earn promotion to the EFL for the first time in the club's history.
Sunderland academy product Diamond spent last season on loan with Town and played a major role in their promotion campaign, culminating with a goal in the play-off final against Notts County at Wembley at the beginning of August which clinched their place in League Two.
Harrogate were keen to bring Diamond back to Wetherby Road this season, but he has impressed Phil Parkinson in pre-season and the manager has already said the 20-year-old is staying on Wearside to compete for a place in the first team.
But Diamond could feature against his former teammates tomorrow, when Town visit the Stadium of Light as the Black Cats' final pre-season opponents.
"When I found out we were playing Harrogate a few of their lads were on to me," Diamond told safc.com.
"I've had a few texts about it, and everyone is looking forward to the game.
"It will be nice to see them, but we obviously want to go out there and get the win first and foremost.
"My time there was a huge learning curve and it gave me my first opportunity of playing men's football.
"I can't thank the lads and the coaching staff enough for helping me and giving me that opportunity.
"Obviously the goal at Wembley really topped the season off and helped the club get back into the EFL."
After helping Town to promotion on August 2, Diamond had the shortest of summer breaks before starting pre-season training with Sunderland.
And he has caught the eye with his performances in Sunderland's two pre-season outings so far, against Gateshead last weekend and then against Carlisle United on Tuesday.
Diamond said: "I didn't have much time off after the play-off final, but it's been good just to get straight into it.
"Now it's all about getting my head down and working hard to hopefully break into the team this season."
