Bellingham and Joe Gelhardt react to four-word Luke O’Nien message after Sunderland party
Luke O’Nien was forced to play a minor role as Sunderland sealed their return to the Premier League after eight years away.
The Black Cats are back at the top for the first time since 2017, courtesy of a last-gasp winner from Tom Watson to beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final and spark pandemonium at Wembley.
Sunderland weathered a storm from the Blades for much of the first 75 minutes, as Anthony Patterson’s two saves kept Regis Le Bris‘ side in the contest either side of Tyrese Campbell’s opener in the first half.
A late rally from Sunderland towards the back end of the second period proved vital though, as Eliezer Mayenda’s equaliser was followed up by a 95th-minute strike from Brighton-bound substitute Watson.
O’Nien celebrates Sunderland victory despite early setback
Patterson had already made a world-class stop to deny Kieffer Moore’s header by the time O’Nien hit the deck clutching his shoulder in just the third minute, with the 30-year-old utility soon withdrawn in pain.
O’Nien is Sunderland’s third longest-serving player after academy duo Patterson and Dan Neil and soon emerged with his arm in a sling, running from the dugouts to celebrate Mayenda’s 76th-minute equaliser.
An expected dislocated shoulder limited O’Nien to a mere three minutes of action at Wembley, but the previously ever-present Sunderland man didn’t let that dampen his celebrations in an Instagram post.
In a post (24 May) liked by Black Cats team-mate Jobe Bellingham and fellow promotion winner [with Leeds] Joe Gelhardt, O’Nien simply said: “We are Premier League!”
Sunderland set for significant summer upheaval
The Premier League vultures had circled at the Stadium of Light in the hope that Sunderland didn’t achieve promotion, with winning scorer Watson’s £10million move to Brighton already confirmed.
Approaches are expected for the likes of Bellingham and captain Neil has a big admirer in the form of Everton boss David Moyes, but Le Bris will hope to keep experienced heads like O’Nien and his skipper.
Battle-hardened, top flight-proven players like former Sunderland favourite Jordan Henderson could even head the other way in the wake of promotion, and O’Nien’s injury won’t prevent him from playing a big part in their Premier League adventure.