Stephen Elliott: Luke O'Nien's return is great news for Sunderland with his best yet to come

O’Nien is a player - as Lee Johnson has alluded to recently – who has the issue of not having a fixed position.

I have spoken about this before and over the next few weeks Johnson will have the dilemma of where he will play O’Nien or if he will play him at all.

Max Power has been filling in at right-back, where O’Nien has played most of his football since his arrival at the club.

If it was a choice between the pair I would feel more comfortable having O’Nien back in as he has never let the club down when called upon there.

However, Johnson has said that he can’t play him there as throwing the ball is out of the equation at the minute due to issues with his shoulder.

I’d like to see O’Nien given a run in an advanced midfield position.

He has bundles of energy and runs forward well. He came to the club as a midfielder and we have not seen enough of him in there to make a real judgement on his credentials.

I feel he would offer a real goal threat with late runs into the box, something that isn’t consistently there at the moment in the team.

This current Sunderland squad is a better team when he plays, so for me Johnson needs to find a position for him in the team.

As well as he has done, I feel if he plays further forward, the best is yet to come from him.

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