Sunderland AFC defender, Zak Johnson is set to return to Wearside following a highly-successful loan move at Irish Premier League side, Dundalk FC.
Johnson recently helped Dundalk to an eighth-consecutive home clean sheet, a club record, as the Lilywhites went into the mid-season break on a high.
The 19-year-old, who arrived on a loan deal in February, helped to keep Sligo Rovers at bay in a 1-0 win that saw his side move off the bottom of the League of Ireland Premier Division table.
After making his debut in the 0-0 draw with Waterford on March 15, Johnson has become an integral part of the back four and has featured in every game of the record-breaking run.
The last time an opposition player scored at Oriel Park was on March 4, some 12-and-a-half-hours of football.
In March, Zak was named as the 1903 Dundalk FC Supporters Club Player of the Month while he is also one of six players nominated for the Soccer Writers of Ireland Player of the Month award for May.
Zak added: “I have loved every minute of my time here. The lessons in maturity and self-development have been so valuable, they will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am now ready to come back and continue my journey with Sunderland.
“The key message was to play as many games as possible. That’s the simple part. However, I have done everything to be consistent and bring the best version of myself.
“I want to thank Dundalk for supporting me throughout. The supporters have also been amazing.”
🙌 'I have a new self-belief which grows in every game I play...'
— SAFC Academy (@AcademyOfLight) June 24, 2024
Keep smashing it, Zak! 👏#SAFC pic.twitter.com/yPNKJ2HejM