Sunderland is the best club in the country for a young player to learn his trade, according to academy graduate Dan Neil. The Black Cats have developed a reputation for giving young players a chance - and the strategy has paid off, with the Wearsiders exceeding all expectations as they have stepped up from League One and immediately elbowed their way into the competitive race for the play-off places in the Championship.
They have done so with the youngest group in the division, with the average age of their starting line-up just 23.6. Sunderland's squad includes ten players aged 21 or under, and Tony Mowbray has handed EFL debuts to a series of youngsters such as Jewison Bennette (18), Abdoullah Ba (19), Edouard Michut ( debut at 19), Isaac Lihadji (20), and Pierre Ekwah (21), while 15-year-old Chris Rigg was involved in the club's FA campaign and may yet make his league debut before end of the season.
At 21, Neil is living proof of Sunderland's willingness to put their faith in youth, with the South Shields-born midfielder closing in on his 100th appearance for the club after making his breakthrough into the first-team last season. Neil signed an improved three-year deal last month which will tie him to the club until 2026, replacing his previous contract which ran until 2025, and he is focused on helping Sunderland return to the Premier League.
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"One hundred percent, that's the goal. I think there's no better place to be in England than Sunderland at the minute if you're a young player," said Neil, who has made 96 appearances for the Black Cats.
"They trust in young lads to play. I've got a lot of appearances under my belt and that's what I've got at this age.
"By signing this contract I think I'm going to get more, and there are young players coming in fighting for positions and it's just a really competitive squad. I think we are heading in the right direction and hopefully in the three years that I've signed we can get that end goal."
With skipper Corry Evans suffering a cruciate ligament injury in January which ruled him out until the end of the season, Neil has taken on the role of senior man in central midfield, often playing alongside Michut and most recently, in Sunderland's draw at Burnley last Friday, Ekwah. Neil said: "I think when you look at the midfielders we have I've got the most games under my belt so I feel like it's almost been put upon me.
"I like that responsibility and being the loud voice in the middle of the pitch, keeping everyone right. I think it's one of my strengths, organising and being tactically aware of situations so I've enjoyed it."
Sunderland continue their Championship campaign on Good Friday, when Hull City visit the Stadium of Light.
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