Luke O’Nien has been reflecting on Sunderland’s first season back in the Premier League
Luke O'Nien says he is thriving in Sunderland's 'wonderful environment' as he pushes for more Premier League minutes this season.
O'Nien has been working hard behind the scenes during the international break as one of the few players at the Academy of Light, and opened up on how 1-v-1 work with Reinildo and Enzo Le Fée is sharpening up his game. The Sunderland stalwart spoke more broadly about he is improving as a result of the club's recruitment since winning promotion.
"Nine months in, I'm still trying win the ball off Brian Brobbey, so it's like, I've got to find ways to problem solve and to get the ball off him," O'Nien told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"Playing alongside Granit, if I'm in possession, he makes my life easier, if I'm out of possession, I've got to think, well, where am I positionally-wise?
"You know, I was out training today, quite a few of the boys are on international duty, and it's me and Reinildo, he's one of the best 1v1 defenders I've ever seen. There's intensity, the way he presses... I'm going out there today, 1v1s against him and Enzo, and I know I'm going to go home today, I'm going to watch my clips back, I'm going to see where I can get better and then I'm going to come in tomorrow and against these guys again. It's just a wonderful environment to be in. It's so competitive which is exactly what you want, and, yeah, we're in a good spot right now, we've got to keep kicking on."
Luke O’Nien: Why I’ve found a home playing at centre back
O'Nien also reflected on his journey from signing as a central midfield to playing at centre back in the top tier, and believes it might be because of the education he had at Wycombe Wanderers as a youngster.
"I think in my first year, I lied my way in at right back," O'Nien said.
"The manager asked, have I played there before? And I felt like the right answer was yes. And then little did I know that I'll be starting there the next game in the FA Cup! I think it was against Walsall at right back. So I did find myself in at right back and then I think I stayed in the team at right back for the next kind of year and a half, two years. Listen, I enjoy being on the pitch and I enjoy problem solving. And you have that in every single position.
"I think if you look into why I've kind of found comfort at centre back, it's probably because I learned my trade at Wycombe. My education at Wycombe was man to man and if you actually look at centre back you can kind of say that is a man to man job because it's kind of you versus a striker. So potentially, if you look into that deeply, that might be why I found comfort at centre back. You know, being a man to man at Wycombe it was set up and destroy and I think that's kind of the same principle maybe at right back as well, because it's you versus a winger. And at centre back, it's the same principle. So I'm here to learn and if I find myself a left winger in these next five years here, then I'll have a lot of learning to do!"
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