Conor Hourihane discusses his Sunderland exit and how Peter Reid's gamble helped transform his remarkable career

The Republic of Ireland international progressed through Sunderland’s academy after the club won the race for his signature amid fierce competition from up and down the country.

He left the club to join Roy Keane at Ipswich Town and though that move did not work out, his remarkable rise through the divisions subsequently has mirrored Sunderland’s fall into League One.

As with John Egan, now shining in the Premier League with Sheffield United, there has been considerable regret on Wearside at his departure.

In a candid interview charting his progress in the game, Hourihane told The Athletic’s Going Up, Going Down podcast that he had been ‘naive’ in expecting to break through instantly at Portman Road.

“It was one of those where at the time, I felt like I was kind of going down a cul-de-sac at Sunderland really, going nowhere,” he said.

“I tried to go out on loan a couple of times and there was interest from a couple of teams, but it never really came off, it always fell through for whatever reason.

“I was searching for that break of first-team football and I thought for some reason that it would happen at Ipswich when they came along, with Roy being an influence again.

“A few Sunderland players had made that switch and I thought, ‘let’s have a go’.

“Me being a young, naive 19-year-old, I thought, ‘yeah I’ll get first-team football here’.

“Looking back now at 29, there’s no way I was going to play first-team football there.

“It didn’t work out but I enjoyed my year there, it was a fantastic club, and it ultimately helped me get to where I am today.”

After leaving Ipswich, Hourihane joined Peter Reid at Plymouth Argyle.

The club was in dire financial straits and though Reid left not long after his arrival, the midfielder says he still feels a debt of gratitude to the former Sunderland boss.

“It came through Peter’s connection with Sunderland,” Hourihane said.

“He rang the youth team manager at the time and the academy manager for a bit of advice and background.

“He said he was thinking of getting me down for a trial and the two lads at Sunderland, luckily enough for me, gave me a good reference and away I went.

“He’s a great guy.

“He wasn’t there for too long [after I joined], the club was in dire straits at the time.. but I’m really grateful to him for taking a gamble on me.”

Hourihane also discussed his fond memories of his time in the academy at Sunderland with Going Up, Going Down, including his friendship with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and his team’s run to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup.

Hourihane has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa since their promotion last summer.