Youngster Dan Neil has spoken of his breakthrough from the academy ranks to the first team, the midfield starlet has been a constant name around Lee Johnson's first team squad this season and his name has been on the lips of SAFC fans for some time now.
PROMOTION CHANCES
"It’s definitely something I’d love do is to get Sunderland promoted. When we were in the Premier League and the Championship I was obviously far too young, but when I came in full-time as a 16-year-old and we were down in League One it’s always been on my mind to get into the first team as fast as I can – I want to be a part of the rebuild at this football club. We were in the Premier League for years and to be in the stands as a fan and watch it fall, and fall rapidly, hurt. But now I’m in this position playing for the club week-in-week-out. I just want to be part of the rebuild phase and I want to get the club back to where it belongs. There were a few games last season I came on where I don’t think I did a few of the things tactically that he wanted off the ball. And that was the reason I didn’t want to go out on-loan because I really wanted to learn his style of football and I wanted to implement that into my game so that this season I was fully prepared to get into this team, because that’s all I’ve ever wanted. When I got picked to play left back the first game of the season I didn’t care. It was my debut. I’ll do anything to play – I’d have played in goal if he wanted me to. He knows I’m a midfielder, and knows I can do the job in midfield, but the fact I’ve had to go out of position on my debut in front of the first crowd I’ve ever played in front of, and to do the job well, I think was the thing that made him trust me. We’re picking up some good results but everything is positive around the club now. Coming into the season I didn’t have any targets it was just about playing as many games as I can and playing well, but now I’m playing most games I was looking at maybe six-to-eight goals and eight-to-ten assists. I’m just going to aim high and see what can happen. I would like to get back in the England set-up. I was in it when I was younger before I picked up an injury and I’ve never been close to it since, but I think this is my best chance to get back into it."
FROM ACADEMY TO FIRST TEAM
"My whole journey through this academy has been top notch. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it, but I always wondered what it would feel like in the build-up to the game when you’re standing in the tunnel and you can hear the roar, and you can hear the music, and the build of tension and anticipation. First game of the season I got to experience that. When we ran on the pitch and clapped the fans and stopped while the captain’s flipped the coin I was just looking round thinking ‘this is unbelievable.’ When they sing Wise Men Say at the start of games, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and you just can’t help but look around – you almost forget that you’re playing. The gaffer came in halfway through last season and it was tough to implement his ideas and his culture because it was Saturday-Tuesday every week, whereas he’s had a full pre-season to get in players he wants and to get that blend of youth and experience he’s always wanted and I think the squad is in a good place."
