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Why 5-goal midfielder Josh Hawkes should choose Sunderland over Newcastle
Sunderland and Newcastle United are set to go head to head in pursuit of a talented youngster from non-league.
, the two rivals will battle a number of clubs for Hartlepool United starlet Josh Hawkes.
Premier League duo Burnley and Huddersfield Town are also in the hunt for Hawkes, as well as Football League quarter Barnsley, Hull City, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United.
It looks like Hawkes may have some options if all eight of these clubs firm up their interest.
But if he is left with a choice between Sunderland and Newcastle, it would make more sense for his career to join the Black Cats.
With Newcastle in the Premier League, the 20-year-old would slot straight into the academy side, rather than be given the opportunity to push for first-team starts.

Sean Longstaff has recently shown that stepping up from the academy to the first-team is possible.
But Hawkes would face a major challenge jumping from the fifth tier to the top flight of English football.
A move to Sunderland could help bridge his path to the top of the game, with playing time in League One or the Championship.
The young attacking midfielder is a regular for Hartlepool with five goals in 21 games this season and he looks certain to move up the football pyramid.
But the more logical next step would be to move to Sunderland, where he would be pushing for first-team chances sooner than if he joined Newcastle.