Tony Mowbray is convinced Luke O'Nien has the drive to become a Premier League player - insisting he has never managed a 'better human being' than the Sunderland man. O'Nien has been a favourite of successive Black Cats' managers and head coaches in his four-and-a-half years on Wearside who have valued him not only for his ability, but also for his versatility and willingness to play in any role required.
And the 28-year-old has also established himself as a fan favourite for his hard work and attitude both on and off the pitch. It is that character that Mowbray is referring to when he talks of O'Nien's qualities as a human being, but it is his determination to improve as a footballer that has convinced him that the former Wycombe Wanderers man has what it takes to play in the top flight, revealing that he 'overworks' the coaches at the Academy of Light.
"Luke O'Nien - there are people here who know him better than I do, but what I would say is that I don't think I've ever managed a better human being than Luke O'Nien," said Mowbray, following yesterday's 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light. "He just does everything right, he is an amazing guy.
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"If anything, he overworks the coaches because he wants to watch every touch he has had in every game and see what he can do better. Then he wants to go out and practice and practice and practice.
"He's a kid that, again, I didn't really study his history but if he started at Wycombe as a young boy and he has made massive strides in his career, I'm sure that if Sunderland don't keep on progressing, that kid will find a way to get to the Premier League himself. He is an amazing kid."
O'Nien is not the only player within the Sunderland ranks that Mowbray believes can play at Premier League level. He points to the silky skills of ex-Manchester City wideman Patrick Roberts and wonders how he ended up playing in the third tier with Sunderland in the latter half of last season, and also to the potential of former Spurs winger Jack Clarke.
Mowbray said: "I find it hard to understand how Patrick Roberts was in League One. Something must have happened in his life or his career, because his talent is Premier League. And Jack Clarke is a potential Premier League talent.
"Managers can't teach Patrick Roberts to skip past players like he does, stick the ball through people's legs and then bend it in the corner, but I can teach him about his positional play and how hard he has to work and I can drive him really tough. If he's 25 now, Patrick, he's potentially got five, six, seven, years if he wants to get to the Premier League.
"If he is the best player on the pitch every week and then the phone rings, why would you stop someone going off and earning money that you can only dream of. I see my job as to inspire young men, really, to help them get better.
"I'm fully aware of my own abilities, I'm not Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp, but I can connect with human beings and young guys and try to help them fight and work hard and understand positions on a football pitch."
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