Promotion the plan for re-signed Black Cat winger Honeyman
GEORGE Honeyman is targeting regular first team football and promotion next season, after agreeing a new two-year deal to stay at Sunderland.
The 22-year-old academy graduate born in Prudhoe made five first team appearances last season and impressed towards the end of the campaign before injury ended it early.
Former manager Moyes was impressed by Honeyman and had said he would be looking to offer him a new deal - which is what the club have opted to do despite Moyes’ departure this week.
Speaking about his new deal, Honeyman revealed his desire to kick-on and establish himself next season in the Championship.
“I’m delighted it has all been finalised and now I’m looking forward to working hard and spending the next couple of years at Sunderland,” Honeyman said.
“It means everything to me and my family to play football for our firstteam.
“I have loved every second of my time at the club ever since they were taking me in four times a week when I was 11. I owe them a lot and wouldn’t have achieved this without them.
“I want to be a regular in the team and help achieve promotion and I truly believe next season we can achieve both of those things.”
Having made appearances in January against West Brom and Tottenham, Honeyman came back into the fold earlier this month, playing against Bournemouth and Hull.
He was just half a game away from triggering an automatic renewal clause before an injury ended his campaign.
But it was always expected Sunderland would renew his deal anyway.
Honeyman is the first of seven Black Cats players out of contract this summer to learn their fates.
Seb Larsson, John O’Shea, Joleon Lescott, Victor Anichebe, Jan Kirchhoff and Steven Pienaar will all leave on June 1 unless new deals are agreed.
Exactly how the club will approach that with no new manager in place yet remains to be seen.