The exciting Sunderland youngster who has left Phil Parkinson with a big call to make and given himself 'every chance'

Against Carlisle, Dan Neil had again caught the eye with a vibrant cameo from the bench.

"He's a talent, we can all see that,” Parkinson said.

“He can cover ground but he receives on the ball on the turn and his weight of pass is more or less always spot on.

“He's put himself in contention and that's what you want."

Parkinson had confirmed that he had treated this Harrogate clash as if it was the first day of the season.

Neil just missed out, but he was given another chance to make his mark with a brief appearance towards the end.

And there he was again, receiving the ball on the turn and getting the weight of pass spot on.

Will Grigg was the beneficiary; the striker staking his own claim for a place next Saturday with a fine, clinical finish.

Whether Neil has done enough to make the side to face Hull City remains to be seen, but he right in amongst it and if he has not quite yet, then the EFL Trophy clash against Aston Villa U21s will surely bring another opportunity.

The young midfielder has been one of the stories of the pre-season campaign, one of a crop of talented youngsters who have lifted competition for places.

It has not gone unnoticed in the Sunderland dressing room, with Luke O'Nien saying Neil's contributions are 'no surprise'.

"Dan has been exceptional right throughout pre-season," O'Nien said.

"Every day in training, he’s like a dancer with those magic feet. He’s creating and scoring goals in training all the time.

"For him to set up the goal today after coming on today is absolutely no surprise.

"He’s been doing that week in, week out in training which is good to see.

"There’s a few of the youngsters who have been impressing. Jack Diamond has come back and done really well so we have that healthy competition.

"The gaffer doesn’t know his team yet so everyone has one more week of training to be at their absolute max and make sure they get that shirt.

"It’s a long season," he added.

"The team that starts the first game rarely stays that way all season so it’s important as well that the people who do get in the team are pushed by those that aren’t.

"It’s a good place to be.

"Some of these lads were born in the year 2000, which makes me feel old and I never thought I’d say that!

"It’s not easy to make the transition from development football so you have to give these lads credit for quickly getting up to the speed of it.

"Not only that, but then going on and competing for places.

"I’ve spoken to Dan, for example, and he’s got as much chance as anyone else of getting a shirt right now."

For the most part the 1-0 win over Harrogate Town was a hard-fought one, the visiting side impressing throughout and creating the better openings in the first half.

Grigg's winner, though, made it three wins in three for Parkinson's side as they approach the first competitive game of the campaign.

"It's another step in the right direction," O'Nien said.

"A lof of the boys got 90 minutes under their belt which is the first for all of us, apart from Flanno the other night.

"It was good to get 90, we're getting into a good rhythm. Even though it's only pre-season it's still good to be winning games and getting into that winning habit.

"I think we’re very prepared," he added.

"We’ve had a good amount of time together, the management team have looked after us. We’ve been worked hard, we’re a fit team and I feel like it’s coming together.

"We’re in a really good place, we’ve just to keep building.

"Good habits are important, just getting that winning mentality," he added.

"It’s all about habits, defenders keeping clean sheets and our strikers scoring."

The Carabao Cup first round makes for an unusual start to the season but for Sunderland, it will also be an instructive one.

Both sides will be missing players due to international commitments yet even so, it will serve as a good early barometer as to where they are it.

Hull City's fanbase remains discontented with the ownership after a long decline and a remarkable implosion last season, but their summer business has been impressive.

The likes of Tom Eaves and George Honeyman know the level well and to that core they have already added proven campaigners in Greg Docherty, Richie Smallwood, Lewie Coyle and Mallik Wilks.

"Hull coming down from the Championship, they’re going to be a good team," O'Nien said.

"It’s just as important a game as any other to us, to build on what we’ve done in pre-season so far.

"It’s a good start to the season and a good benchmark for us."

Competition for places in the final third is set to grow even further this week, with Parkinson confirming after the Harrogate win that Elliot Embleton will return to training on Monday after missing a week with a thigh problem.