Dan Neil had one thought when he was likened to a young Paul Gascoigne by Sunderland boss Lee Johnson.
“Wrong coloured stripes! But a great player,” said Neil, the latest kid to emerge from the Wearside academy striving to follow in the footsteps of England stars Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford.
Surprisingly local lad Neil, 19, has met Gazza, whose bustling style and manoeuvring of the ball resembles the former Newcastle, Spurs and World Cup ‘90 legend.
“I have been round Gazza’s street, and met him before and he coached at my boys club when I was younger. I have watched clips of him, and I can see why the manager said that.
“I was friends with his nephew, Cameron Gascoigne when he was at Newcastle’s academy, and he played for Hebburn as well.
“But obviously the levels from me to Gazza are a million miles away at the minute! I hope to get to his standard one day.”
And Neil has only ever seen Henderson at St George’s Park when on England U20 duty recently and modestly admits: “I was too nervous to speak to him! He kind of walked round the corner, and I thought “I’ll not bother him.”
“I once did a yoga class with Pickford. I would love to speak to them properly and pick their brains.”
Hebburn born Neil has become a mainstay in Sunderland’s League One promotion charge, scoring three times from midfield, and giving Wearside fans a new home grown name to chant.
He added: “Henderson and Pickford got big moves. I’ve watched Pickford saving pens in the World Cup. Henderson lifted the Premier League and Champions League. It does motivate you.
“You say to yourself you want to be the next one out of the Sunderland line, to go on and achieve those things. If I keep working and focus, hopefully that will happen one day.”
Facing Arsenal at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup in December was also an inspiration. Despite defeat, Neil said: “Physically, technically every pass was crisp, every touch perfect, it gave me and the lads a kick up the arse to strive to improve.
“It’s the level we want to get to. It was a massive learning experience and that game sets up the season playing that standard of opposition.”
Neil has been at Sunderland since he was six, and made his first team bow at 16. Premier League Burnley are watching him closely.
He watched Sunderland’s slide from the terraces, and now wants to be part of their revival.
He reflected: “The thing that killed the club was when Sam Allardyce came in and we had a great end to the season. Then the FA took him to England. The decline started and there was no momentum.
“We have recently had our heartbreaks in League One. Since I came in I have thought I want to be part of getting us to the Championship and back to the Premier League.
“We have a fighting chance to get out of this league and get the good times coming back to Sunderland.
“It is time for Sunderland to have something to celebrate. We now have stability. This manager can lead us to success in the future. I would love to be a captain in the future but I have lots to improve on to get that title.
“We have a mix of experience and youth. The fans have been excited by it this season, because we’ve been attack minded.”
