At Sunderland, the versatile O’Nien has transformed himself into a Swiss Army Knife, capable of playing in a variety of positions while always giving his all for his manager, teammates, and fans. O’Nien is now primarily a centre-back, having previously played in midfield and both full-back positions for the Black Cats. “That was exactly what we had,” Bartlett recalls. “He came to us as a central midfielder, but we also played him wide and at full-back; his best position was central, but he wasn’t the strongest at the time because he was still a teenager.”

“Sometimes you have to look after players like that and push them a little wider because of their youth, but his enthusiasm, energy and just general desire to not only do well for himself but do well for the team too.” O’Nien is unquestionably a player who has maximised his technical talent; practice has made perfect, and the player’s sheer determination and bloody-mindedness have paid off handsomely in terms of his football career. Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray, who was a fantastic centre-back in his day, allegedly suggested that O’Nien may make it to the Premier League. Current head coach Règis Le Bris has also continued to select the player. in the heart of his defence since arriving at the club last summer and has praised O’Nien on numerous occasions.