'Massively proud': Dan Neil reflects on Sunderland promotion and reveals Premier League ambition

Dan Neil has spoken of his motivation to win another promotion to the Premier League after his exit from Sunderland in January.

Ipswich Town remain firmly in the race for the Championship top two, with Neil currently on loan at Portman Road before he leaves the Black Cats at the end of his contract this summer.

In an interview with the club's matchday programme ahead of the recent 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, Neil opened up on his remarkable journey with Sunderland and the 'disappointment' of not being able to play more in the first half of the current campaign.

“As you grow up, you dream of your debut, you dream of your first goal, but you can’t really dream of captaining your boyhood club at Wembley and getting them back to the Premier League,” Neil said.

“It’s almost out of the realm of possibility. For it to happen was amazing, especially with that group of lads because they were all brilliant, we had a great team spirit. We managed to get the job done and take the club back to where I believe it belongs. It was a massively proud moment.

“Not getting many chances in the Premier League this season was disappointing, but there’s definitely a little bit of fire in my belly to get back after the way it went at the start of the season.”

Neil says the move away from Wearside took some time to adjust to but he feels he can play a pivotal part in Ipswich Town's run-in as they bid to book an immediate return back to the top tier.

“It’s the first time I’ve moved clubs, moved away from my home area, so that took a little bit of time to adjust to,” Neil said.

"Then, just getting that match fitness again has been a test.

“I’m on a different path now and I’m desperate to get back to the Premier League, get that feeling of getting promoted again. Who knows what will happen in the summer, but I want to make sure that I give 100 per cent to try and get Ipswich back to the Premier League.”

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

Dan Neil's praise for Tony Mowbray

Neil also praised former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray for the responsibility he gave him in the Sunderland side.

“Tony Mowbray was the best manager I’ve had,” Neil said.

“He was the first person that gave me the captain’s armband, against Birmingham on Remembrance Day, second season in the Championship. It was like playing for your granddad – you’d run through a brick wall for him.

“Then Regis Le Bris, my last gaffer, was a brilliant tactician and a bit of a professor of the game. All the different styles of managers at Sunderland added a lot of strings to my bow because I’ve had to play different roles for the team under them.”

Your next Sunderland read: Noah Sadiki delivers Sunderland dressing room verdict on Aston Villa defeat