LO9 MAKES PREM DEBUT

It was an emotional moment for Luke O'Nien, who finally made his Premier League debut last night at Anfield.

SPECIAL JOURNEY

“I’ve just got off FaceTime with my wife and my sister, so I’m a little bit emotional from just seeing them. My wife said that my kids stayed up and were jumping up and down when I came on. It’s very special. I just said to the boys that I couldn’t be prouder of the group we have, with Dan Neil and Patto and the journey this club’s been on. Seeing the quality that has come in, and not just the quality but the human beings. The way they’ve gone about climbing up the Premier League table has been special. To be a part of it, to come this far with this incredible club, with the fanbase, I think for the first time in my Sunderland career I am lost for words.”

THANKS TO EVERYONE

“I didn’t have myself down for making my Premier League debut as a left winger! I actually don’t know what to say, I’m a bit emotional and just very very happy. I can just say a big thank you to the gaffer for this opportunity. The staff, the team, my wife and my kids, this fanbase, this club, it’s very special for me. It’s a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

DESERVED THE WIN

“I said to the boys at the end, I thought they deserved the three points because they were incredible. The way they battled, they fought, they limited Liverpool to very few chances, if any at all. I really thought the boys deserved three points. It’s a big step in the right direction for this club, they’ve built every single week and the club has gotten better and better. Wow, I’m trying not to cry. Honestly, I’m so proud of this team, this club and this city. It’s a very special day.”

INJURY RECOVERY/NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

“I’m dead grateful to the physios for working with me and the people that I saw to help me get back. I’ve just checked my phone and I’ve got a message from my non-league manager, Gordon Bartlett. I was playing non-league about 13 years ago so to play at Anfield today is special. This club has come a long way from League One all the way back to the Premier League. It’s been a lot of work and there’s a lot of people behind the scenes putting in the good work. It’s just incredible to see. I’m not surprised by seeing how much work goes on behind the scenes, it’s nice that the fans are getting all this but there’s a lot of work from people that not everyone sees. I’m very proud of everybody.”

FAMILY SUPPORT

“My mum and dad were in the crowd today and I just wanted to go up and give them a hug, in fact I’m going to do it straight after this interview. Them two, my brother and sister, my wife, her family and the kids… but especially my mum and dad, I just wouldn’t be here without them. Seeing my mum jumping up and down, I think she was slightly happier than me! I’m just really appreciative of them."

ROLE IN THE SQUAD

"I’ve still got a lot of focus though, I’m well aware that you don’t just make one appearance and call yourself a Premier League player. I’ve still got a lot of work to do so I’m very focused on building and supporting this team in the best way possible. You take on different roles depending on injuries and how the team’s gone, and the team is so strong. I’m proud to be on the bench but also I really want to get on the pitch. The team is so good. Last season, the most important part of promotion was Simon Moore and he played four games. Simon is my mentor this season and I’m thinking that if I can be somewhat like him, and help the team like he did last year to get us promoted, if that’s my role then that’s my role. I’ll keep pushing the people that are starting - Ballard, Lutsha (Geertruida), Omar, I could go through all of them. They’ve all been sensational and some of them have been some of the best players in the Premier League from Trai to Reinildo… I’ll just name the whole eleven!"

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

"Every single one of them, the way they’ve all worked, they’ve been been patient, the respect that the players show each other, it’s the environment we wanted to create and we’ve created it. It’s taken a long time from being in League One and we’ve just chipped away at it. I’m so happy to see the club in a nice place but we’ve still got way more work to do."

THIS IS JUST THE START

"I’m now setting my sights on a lot more appearances and learning from the players that are in. Maybe when I get to 50 Premier League appearances I can say that I’m a Premier League player, but to get the first one I am very very proud and grateful to everybody. I think I’m going to see my mum and dad now.”