I LEARNED ABOUT RELEGATION DOGFIGHTS AT BLACK CATS

SHEFFIELD UNITED’S John Ega Egan learned how to fight a rele relegation battle from his time at Sunderland.

Egan ( left as a Black Cats youth player and right, with the Blades) witnessed Sunderland’s escape act under Paolo Di Canio in 2013 as a young pro on the fringes of the first team and remembers re the leadership shown show by senior players. John

O’shea and Lee Cattermole were always positive and Egan, who left Sunderland in 2014, says United must keep believing, despite their desperate relegation struggle.

The bottom- of- the- table Blades face Newcastle at Bramall Lane tonight, still searching for their first Premier League win this term.

Egan, 28, said: “I was in and around the squad at Sunderland and I saw it a few times. I learned you have to stay positive, you have to keep looking to the next game.

“The senior pros at the time at Sunderland were brilliant at that, the likes of John O’shea and Lee Cattermole were great at rallying the troops and looking ahead rather than looking behind.

“That was the biggest lesson I learned and I try to apply it now in our situation.

“We have to keep reminding each other that what’s t’s done is done and what’s ahead ad of us is all we can affect.

“It’s a good way to o approach things, a good ood way to approach life. It’s the best way to approach what we’re e going through.”

United fans remain n behind boss Chris Wilder lder because of his successes sses over the previous four seasons asons and the fact he is one of their own.