Stephen Elliott: Luke O'Nien's performance has given Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson a transfer headache

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I did not think wing-back was Luke O’Nien’s best position.
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That was not a criticism by the way.

In fact, I would be dishonest if I said I knew what his actual strongest position is.

Some players fall foul of not holding down an actual permanent position within the team but that certainly doesn’t apply to O’Nien.

Luke O'Nien in action against Swindon Town.Luke O'Nien in action against Swindon Town.
Luke O'Nien in action against Swindon Town.
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He has been a revelation when asked to fill in all over the park in the past few seasons and a player like him is worth their weight in gold to a manager.

The blow of losing Jordan Willis will be cushioned by the performance of O’Nien in the centre-back role.

He looked like he had been performing in there his entire career. In truth, it may put a halt to Phil Parkinson going out and making an impulsive free agent signing.

O’Nien is somebody that deserves to achieve a promotion with this football club.

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He would have looked at his old club Wycombe’s play-off success last year with a slight bit of envy, no doubt.

If we do go up, I also feel he is one of the few members of the squad that would be able for the step up to the Championship comfortably.

Winning games is great, but it is the style and the relative ease in which the recent victories have arrived that pleases me the most.

The squad seem to know what their business is and I am delighted with what I’m observing on the pitch at the minute.

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