One Sunderland gem has been hailed for being ‘invaluable’ after the start to the Championship season.
Sunderland have got off to a brilliant start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign, with Regis Le Bris proving to get the very best out of the current side, something that looked to be a difficult fate after taking over a side that finished in a lacklustre 16th position last season.
There have been many top performers for the Black Cats up until this early stage of the campaign, with players in the centre-of-the-park taking main stage, such as Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham, who have been brilliant up until this point.
However, despite the assured performances of the two youngsters in the midfield, journalist James Copley has opted for an alternative option as the Sunderland player of the season up until this point, and despite not going for Bellingham or Rigg, one defender has been labelled as the ‘obvious pick’.
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James Copley names Luke O’Nien as Sunderland player of the season
Sunderland have performed brilliantly across the pitch, with Romaine Mundle and Anthony Patterson also notably putting in a great effort to put the Black Cats back on track this season, however the defence has caught Copley’s eye.
Per Copley on X, he has highlighted Luke O’Nien as his player of the season so far, as he said: “I’m gonna go for the very obvious shout of Luke O’Nien. I think he has reacted really well, obviously Dan Neil has the team captaincy so he has sort of had the armband taken off him.
“He’s played I think 90 minutes in all of sunderlands games, he’s got two goals and one assist, I think sunderland have kept five clean sheets in the opening nine games.
“I think his levels at centre back have improved again this season to what they were last season.
“I just think without Luke O’Nien, I’m not sure Sunderland will go on that run.
“His experience is invaluable, he’s proved a lot of the doubters wrong and I think he’s the obvious pick.”
Luke O’Nien has proven to be crucial for Sunderland
It is clear that O’Nien is valued in-and-around the Sunderland side, despite being relieved of his duties as team captain, and that is proven by the fact he has been irreplaceable in the side up until this early stage.
The Black Cats defender has done incredibly well so far, both offensively and defensively, and when it comes to players putting their body on the line, not many do it better than him.
Whilst Dan Ballard and Chris Mepham may overstep O’Nien in regards to strength or defensive capabilities, there is no hiding the fact that he has simply been incredible up until this point at the back, and Le Bris has succeeded at getting the very most out of him.