Luke O'Nien thanks 'incredible' Sunderland fans as he passes 'unimaginable' milestone

Sunderland and Luke O'Nien didn't get off to the smoothest of starts, but he says the fans have been 'incredible' to him.

Luke O’Nien has thanks Sunderland fans for ‘looking after him’ following his difficult start at the club, and he has vowed to continue to repay them by putting everything into the club.

O’Nien has become a real hero at Sunderland, amassing more than 250 appearances for the Black Cats since joining as a relative unknown from Wycombe in 2018.

He got off to a ropey start on Wearside, getting replaced at half time on his debut against Charlton, but he is now the club’s captain and arguably its greatest ambassador too.

Luke O'Nien: My Sunderland journey has been great, but there's still a long way to go

O’Nien has been looking back on his time at the club, and he says the fans support, especially during the more difficult times, has meant the world to him.

“The relationship I’ve got with the fans is incredible,” O’Nien told safc.com. “It probably didn't get off to the flying start that I wanted, and a few people did let me know that on the social media.

“But equally that's important as part and parcel of football. What I look back on, and I am most proud of, is the fact that when I talk to my kids, life isn't always straightforward.

“When you have those tough moments, like everyone does along the way, it's more important how you react as a person.

“The fans gave me time to settle and equally they've given me one of the best lives in the north east. They look after me, my family, my kids and that's what's most important to me.

“I feel the best way I can reciprocate that is, however long I've got left at this club, just keep trying to put in the best performance I can, being a good teammate, being a good friend, and I try to continue to do that every single day.

“I'm dead grateful to everybody to still be here today. I've had one hell of a five or six years on one now, and hopefully many more years to come, but I'm still looking to improve and get better both on and off the pitch.”

Luke O’Nien has become just the second player this century to reach the 250 appearances landmark at Sunderland.

One of them, Lee Cattermole, he played with, while the other, John O’Shea, left just weeks before O’Nien joined the club.

He, though, says he is still trying to wrap his head around playing 250 games for Sunderland – because he never even dreamed it to be possible.

“To be on number 250 is something that you know I couldn't even say I dreamed of as a kid because I didn't even think it was imaginable. So, I'm very proud.

“I think what's funny is as a kid I played the game with my brother and sister in the street and I loved it and I've still got that kid-like energy that's managed to get this far in the game.”

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