Neil identifies loan call that has played a key part in his rise at Cats

Dan Neil believes the decision not to go out on loan last January has been key in his outstanding early-season form.

After the arrival of Lee Johnson in December, Sunderland'snewregimeagonised overwhetherregularexposure to senior football was the best wayforwardfortheimmensely talented midfielder.

The loan system had worked well for other players, and would see Elliot Embleton thrive at Blackpool.

Neil, however, decided that integrating further into the new tactical philosophy was the best way forward.

Still just 19, it also allowed himtoplayakeyroleascaptain of the U23 side who stormed to the play-off final in their division.

Speaking to the matchday programme Red & White ahead of the 3-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday,

Neil said: "Last season was good for U23s, we just missed outonpromotiononpenalties, but I felt we had progressed well.

"I'd had a good pre-season lastyearandwantedtokickon, but a few things caught up on me so maybe I didn't perform as well in training as I should have.

"I'd aimed to get more firstteamfootballthanIdid,butthe main thing for me was learning. Being around the firstteam lads, seeing the physical and mental sides of the game andtakinginasmuchaspossible from away trips has helped me learn a lot in the last year.

"Iwastrainingwiththefirst team as much as possible but playing a lot of games in the U23s in the second half of the season once it was established that I wasn't going on loan.

"Myself and the gaffer sat downandsaidthatwasthebest thing for me. I really enjoyed the end of last season.

"There were chats about a loan, it was a yes then a no across January, but I decided that there were Papa John's Trophy games to play, and I wanted to stay and learn the head coach's philosophy, if not for that season, then for this season.

"If I'd gone on loan I'd have got first-team experience, yes, but I needed to learn the tactical side of what the gaffer wanted.

"Staying here for the rest of the season helped me massively coming into this season.

"I was delighted to play as much in pre-season as I did, andIfeltthebenefitofremaining here throughout last season and learning what I learnt.

"Iappreciatealothowmuch of an opportunity the gaffer gave me to bring what I had to thetablefortheseasonahead."