Luke O'Nien: 'I used my suspension to make sure I came back a better player'

Luke O’Nien says he used his enforced absence from the Sunderland side to ‘try to come back a better player.’

O’Nien had to sit out for three-and-a-half weeks while he served a three-match ban for his red card against Swansea in mid-January.

The red card that day cost Sunderland the game and he held his hands up immediately for what was undoubtedly a reckless decision. However, his mind then immediately turned to how to use the time to his – and ultimately the team’s – advantage.

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo about how he dealt with his suspension, O’Nien said: “I just became a fan. I just became a fan of the boys and used it to my advantage.

“I apologised to the boys, they made me contribute a lot to the fines and the changing rooms, coffees and whatnot.

“I used the period to make sure I came back a better player. I built power with the sports scientist team and they gave me an individualised programme.

“I trained as hard as I could to help the boys so when I did get back I could take the opportunity, help them and repay them for my mistake.

“Listen we are all going to make mistakes and it’s just how we bounce back from it and so far so good.”

Read more Sunderland news