Luke O'Nien believes his role as '19th man' at Charlton last weekend helped him when he made his long-awaited comeback this week. O'Nien came off the bench to score the goal that completed the turnaround as the Black Cats' came from behind to win 3-1 against Fleetwood Town at the Stadium of Light last night.
It was O'Nien's first game since November, having undergone shoulder surgery to cure a longstanding problem. But he did make the trip to The Valley on Saturday and took part in the warm-up, despite not figuring on the teamsheet against Charlton, as boss Alex Neil tried to ease him back into the matchday routine.
"At Charlton the gaffer wanted me to be a part of it and said 'you're not in the squad it's a little bit early so just be a part of it and get a feel for things'," said O'Nien. "I think that helped last night.
"It's nice to be back and to have scored in a win, but you can't get too carried away and have to build on it now, but it's a good start." O'Nien's return could hardly be better timed as Sunderland look to secure a play-off spot in the final nine games of the season.
The win against Fleetwood lifted them back into the play-off positions, as they climbed from seventh to fifth on the night. O'Nien said: "I've just returned at the right time and it's what we play for, for moments like this.
"We can't get carried away and I feel we need to win these games and keep winning, build momentum and there is no better time than to do it now. "In football you are there to win games and it's our job to work collectively to go and win them."
O'Nien was brought on 20 minutes from time and asked to play in an attacking midfield role as Sunderland looked to find a winning goal after Elliot Embleton had cancelled out Ellis Harrison's first half opener. And it took O'Nien only 10 minutes to make his mark, firing home after a Jermain Defoe shot had been blocked, before Jack Clarke added the third goal in injury-time.
Asked what Neil's message to him was when he sent him on, O'Nien said: "It was to support Rosco [Ross Stewart] and JD [Defoe] and kind of don't break too early but support in that hole to pick up loose balls. Then when the ball goes wide just to make it in the box as many times as I can.
"I think it was good advice because I managed to get in the box after JD's strike and hit it into the bottom corner." O'Nien's absence has been felt over the last three-and-a-half months, with Sunderland's squad having been stretched in several areas when the versatile 27-year-old would have offered extra options.
In his time on Wearside O'Nien has played at full-back, in central defence, and in central midfield, and he does not yet know exactly what role Neil sees him occupying long-term. "I'm not sure [what my role is] anymore, let's go with that," he smiled.
"I think everyone tries to label positions and things like that but, listen, I'm here to perform, that's all our jobs - to perform. "Yesterday I had to do it in a more advanced role and I have to just keep building on that.
"When the gaffer needs me, I'm there to perform the best I can."
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