Luke O’Nien reveals hidden Sunderland dressing room influence despite expected transfer exit
Luke O’Nien has paid a heartfelt tribute to Harrison Jones ahead of his expected Sunderland exit
Luke O’Nien has paid a brilliant tribute to Harrison Jones as the Sunderland midfielder prepares for an expected summer exit.
Jones has been around Sunderland’s senior set-up for much of the last two seasons and has made a handful of first-team appearances after progressing through the club’s academy. The midfielder made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup defeat at Preston North End in August 2024, before starting the FA Cup tie against Stoke City the following January and later making his league debut away at Sheffield Wednesday.
The 21-year-old has not been able to force his way into Régis Le Bris’ Premier League plans on a regular basis, but he has remained a consistent presence in first-team training and is highly regarded behind the scenes. Jones is now expected to move on this summer in search of regular senior football, with interest from clubs in League One, League Two and Scotland. O’Nien, however, made clear just how highly the academy graduate is viewed inside the Sunderland dressing room.
“The parts about Harrison Jones that no one will see, that fella's obviously incredible,” O’Nien said. “The last two years he's been one of the most consistent trainers in the first team every single day. When you don't play, the culture goes to those sorts of people.
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“His level that he's set, he'll never get the plaudits at this football club, but I know inside how important he is to this club. All the boys know it. I can't wait to see his career kick on. He's an unbelievable player, incredible. He's been one of the most proudest things. Europe's cool, but seeing Jonesy, the way he's just matured over the last two, three, four years, the person he's become, plus the footballer, that means more.”
O’Nien continued regarding the homegrown midfielder: “I love Europe, that's cool. Seeing people develop as humans, as players, that's my biggest goal. Europe's the coolest as well. We can develop as people, as players, and come in at here and go to there, that's one of the most important things for all of us.”