Youngster Neil playing his way into Phil’s plans amid Leeds link
Sunderland were barely half an hour into their first preseason campaign when an unexpected opportunity arose.
We can say it was unexpected, as Dan Neil had to dash down the tunnel to get himself ready to enter the fray at the Gateshead International Stadium.
Elliot Embleton had suffered rotten luck, tightness in his thigh just as he was returning from almost a year away from the action. His time will come. Neil, without a number of his back, was given the chance to make his mark.
There was one overly ambitious early touch that drew a scolding from team-mates, but from there it was a performance of verve and clever touches, and even a crunching slide tackle when he was moved to wing-back late on.
Against Carlisle, he picked upwhereheleftoff.Allthatwas missing was a goal, one effort turned over the bar and another off the inside of the post.
Neil,though,hasbeenlively. Competitionforplacesinthose forward areas is ferocious even withoutthepresenceofEmbletonandJackDiamond,butPhil Parkinson could not be clearer. Neil has put himself in the mix.
“He's a talent, we can all see that,” Parkinson said.
“Hecancovergroundbuthe 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.
“As a young player, you don't get the chance in football to feel
your way in. You've got to take your chance and make an impact when you come to train with the first team.
“That's what he's done. We're really pleased with him and he's an extra player that we didn't think we had.”
Therewerefearsearlierthis summer that Neil could become the latest talented youngster to leave the Academy.
Leeds United, Newcastle
United, Wolves and Celtic were all linked with a move for a player who has long been regarded one of the most accomplished talents in the club’s youth teams. Parkinson admitted that had been clubs ‘talking’ about the midfielder, but says that Neil has made clear his desire to be a first-team player at Sunderland. In the salary cap age, when every player under the age of 21 is worth just that little bit more, opportunity knocks. “Dan is a player that, there's been clubs talking about Dan in the summer, but he's got a desire to play for Sunderland,” Parkinson said.
“He's a young player who just has a determination to get in and around the first team.
"At the moment, and there's a few more games to go before the start of the season, he's in amongst it.” Clearly, Neil is one to watch closely when Harrogate Town visit the Stadium of Light this weekend.
*Sunderland’s EFL Trophy group game schedule has now been confirmed.
The Black Cats will face Aston Villa Under-21s, Carlisle United and Fleetwood Town in the competition – with the first game taking place at the Stadium of Light, behindclosed-doors.
A statement read: “The Black Cats’ Group A campaign will begin on Tuesday, September 8, as Aston Villa Under-21s travel to the Stadium of Light. The Lads will then host Carlisle United on Tuesday, October 6.
“Sunderland’s final group game will see them travel to Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, November 10.” All games kick off at 7.45pm.