The whole Sunderland squad have excelled themselves this season, but Regis Le Bris has picked out one man who is quietly doing the hard work, both on and off the pitch.
With more than half the season, Sunderland are still right in the title race at the top of the Championship table, and Regis Le Bris has been earning plaudits for his work.
After last season’s 16th-placed finish, the fact Sunderland are on track for promotion right now is nothing short of remarkable, and a number of the Black Cats’ young players have contributed to that success.
But, one player has not been getting the credit he deserves, until now, and Le Bris is glad one of his key men is finally getting recognised.
Dan Neil does important work on and off the pitch for Sunderland
Speaking to the club’s official website, Le Bris heaped praise on his captain, Dan Neil, commending the midfielder’s role in the Sunderland system, and offering insight into what the 23-year-old offers behind the scenes.
“I think he did well during the first part of the season but it wasn’t so obvious for the observers,” said Le Bris. “Maybe because he is really involved to adjust all the behaviours of his teammates. He is very clever and it’s important in adjusting to give information, balance the team.”
While Neil only has one goal to his name this season, Le Bris explained that is not the best measure for his talents, adding: “The individual output is not maybe as big as expected but it is still very important for the team.
“You can feel how strong he is as an individual player. At the same, the role he has for the balance of the team is very important.”
Le Bris concluded by discussing Neil’s specific role on the pitch and how integral to Sunderland’s success that is.
“We played so far with 4-3-3 a lot. The role of number six is very important to balance the team and to manage the counter-attacks,” he said. “If we release that position, it’s like a big gap for the opponent. We haven’t conceded many counter-attacks. It’s very important for the confidence of the team and Dan is solely important for that role.”
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The Sunderland midfield doesn’t work without Dan Neil
Just last week, Sunderland fans praised Neil’s captaincy at the club, and it is easy to forget that this is a player who is leading a team at just 23-years-old.
Between the way he breaks up play and turns over possession, to his effective passing and progressive carries, Neil is a dynamic and tireless figure on the pitch.
| Statistics | Dan Neil (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 25 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Pass success | 83.8% |
| Tackles won per 90 | 1.00 |
Without his work from deep, there is no way that the likes of Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham could thrive in more advanced positions the way they do.
What is really exciting, though, is that the potential arrival of Enzo Le Fee could give Neil more freedom in those attacking areas, and we may still see a different side of the Sunderland skipper soon.