Cats to face Dons in Papa John's Trophy quarter final
Sunderland will face League One rivals MK Dons in the quarter finals of the Papa John’s Trophy.
The Black Cats reached the last eight of the competition after wins over Oldham Athletic and Port Vale in the knockout stages of the competition. And they will now face a clash against the Dons in the quarter final – with Wembley potentially just two wins away.
It means Lee Johnson’s side will travel to stadium:mk twice in the space of the week, with a League One clash between the pair scheduled for February 6.
Ties will be played on the week commencing February 2/3, with the final set for March 14. Winners of the quarter final ties will pocket £50,000 in prize money.
*Luke O’Nien says he is always playing for his future – and that hasn’t changed as he enters the final six months of his Sunderland contract.
The 26-year-old is one of a number of players set to see their current deals expire at the end of the current campaign, having had a one-year extension clause triggered at the end of the 2019/20 season.
But while it can often prove a nervy time for players as they look to secure their futures, O’Nien insists that nothing has changed from his perspective.
When quizzed on whether this was a key time for him, the midfielder-turned-fullback said: “I think the mentality any player should have is that you're always playing for your future - no matter whether you've got six months or six years left on your contract.
"For me, it's been the same since I signed my first contract to now. You're always going to be playing for your future.”