Sunderland's homegrown talent Dan Neil beginning to…

Sunderland's homegrown talent Dan Neil beginning to find his feet in the Championship

Dan Neil believes he is finally finding his feet in the Championship after helping Sunderland to promotion from League One in his breakthrough season. Homegrown midfielder Neil was one of the stars of the Black Cats' successful play-off winning campaign which saw them climb out of the third tier at the fourth attempt.

But making the step up to the Championship involves a steep learning curve, and Neil - like many of Sunderland's younger players - needed time to adjust. Over the last month, however, he has proved he can make the grade at this level and has started to come into his own once more.

"I feel like I'm on a good run at the minute over the Christmas period and I've started to find my feet a bit in this division," said the 21-year-old academy graduate, following Sunderland's 2-0 home win against Middlesbrough at the weekend. "It's really good to be part of a team playing with confidence.

"Me personally, I quite like that responsibility, even though I am still one of the younger ones still, being one of the older ones because I think I probably have a lot more experience than some of the lads who are actually on the pitch.

"I quite like that responsibility but it's a young, exciting team and I think everyone knows that. It's really good to play in that type of team."

Sunderland's win against Boro lifted them to ninth place in the table, and they are now just a single point behind the play-off spots and fifth-placed Norwich City. Boro had Dael Fry sent off for a professional foul early in the second half and he conceded a penalty in the process, with Ross Stewart scoring from the rebound after his spot-kick had been saved.

And in the final ten minutes, Amad added the second goal to give Tony Mowbray's side some breathing space. Neil said: "I thought the all-round performance on Sunday was a very professional performance.

"I thought there was a little ten minute period in the second half when we were 1-0 up and they were down to ten men where we were a bit sloppy and they caught us on one or two counter attacks. As soon as that second goal went in it was a bit of relief and we controlled the game from then on.

"Obviously, Middlesbrough are flying and had been on a really good run [winning their last four league games]. The sending off does help us in the game but I think even when it was 11-vs-11 we created the better chances.

"They maybe had a bit more control in terms of the possession, but that's what Michael Carrick's teams do. We've watched videos of them and their possession stats have gone through the roof since he's come in."

More than 42,000 fans were at the Stadium of Light for a lunchtime kick-off that was also screened live on Sky, and were rewarded with an impressive performance and a victory. "They turn up in the numbers every week," said Sunderland fan Neil.

"It might have been a little bit better on Sunday because it was a derby and we were winning and playing well, but everyone knows what the Sunderland fans are like. They turn up week-in, week-out, home and away, and the atmosphere's always brilliant.

"I'm from Jarrow and most of my mates are Newcastle fans, so they don't really talk about it too much! A lot of my dad's friends are Sunderland fans, and I chat to them quite a bit. I think everyone's just excited.

"We've got a brand of football, and we've got young players that we're developing. I just feel like it's an upward spiral at the minute.

"Everyone just needs to keep going, we can't rest on our laurels. Everyone needs to keep striving to get better, and see where that takes us at the end of the season."

Sunderland's homegrown talent Dan Neil beginning to find his feet in the Championship

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