Sunderland: Smallbone can be Dan Neil 2.0

Sunderland managed to seek out their means again into the Championship on the finish of final season following 4 years of competing in League One.

One determine on the Wearside membership that performed a giant half of their latest marketing campaign was Dan Neil.

With 39 league appearances to his identify, previous to the play-offs, solely 4 different Sunderland gamers racked up extra minutes than the midfielder.

Having scored three objectives and supplied seven assists within the league, the 20-year-old additionally delivered 27 crosses, made 31 interceptions and gained 31 tackles final season.

This highlights simply how a lot of a well-rounded midfielder he’s and the way succesful he’s of being an attacking menace and a troublesome opponent when out of possession.

Now that the Black Cats have a Championship marketing campaign forward of them, they’ll use the summer time switch window to verify their squad is powerful sufficient to compete and keep away from getting put again in League One.

When it comes to incoming transfers, one determine that the Wearside membership have been linked with that would give them a subsequent model of Neil is Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone.

As a product of the South Coast membership’s youth system, the 22-year-old has made a complete of 116 appearances for the Saints throughout their senior and youth sides.

In these appearances, the Irishman has discovered the web 14 instances and equipped 15 assists throughout all competitions.

In addition to being a helpful determine by way of scoring and creating objectives, Smallbone has additionally gained 17 tackles and made 58 profitable pressures, 17 blocks, 4 interceptions and 7 clearances over his 16 Premier League appearances for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s aspect.

Would you wish to see Sunderland signal Will Smallbone?

This reveals that he has some defensive expertise in him as nicely and why he’d be a possible subsequent model of Neil on the Stadium of Gentle.

To additional spotlight what kind of participant he’s, the Southampton boss had this to say in regards to the £6k-per-week midfielder.

He said: “The entire package deal is powerful, with loads of potential in my opinion. He has loads of issues that basically assist a crew, being good on the ball, overlaying loads of distance, but in addition to work towards the ball and win balls, this is essential.”

Shifting ahead, if the chance arises to safe a deal for the Saints teenager this summer time, Sunderland ought to do all they’ll to get him.

AND in different information: Speakman eyeing SAFC swoop to signal “clever” £4.5m gem, think about him & Roberts