Luke O’Nien showcased why Sunderland should have no fears over Omar Alderete absence
Luke O’Nien shone for Sunderland as they secured a 3-1 win away to Everton.
The Black Cats head into the final game of the season with their European ambitions intact, albeit not entirely in their own hands.
No matter what, Sunderland need to beat Chelsea to stand a chance, and will then have to rely on either Brentford dropping points or Brighton losing to qualify.
Early signs suggest that Omar Alderete will be a doubt for Sunday’s game, having been withdrawn with what appeared to be a hip injury against the Toffees.
But after O’Nien’s performance upon his introduction to the game, there should be no reason to fear.
Luke O’Nien keeps proving people wrong
O’Nien was written off in League One at times, so for him to have been a part of this Sunderland side throughout that journey is a testament to his character.
Each occasion he has been asked to make the step up, he has, and he did the same against Everton.
| vs Everton | O’Nien |
| Minutes | 67 |
| Pass accuracy | 94% |
| Passes into final third | 3 |
| Defensive contributions | 11 |
| Duels won | 6 |
| Fouls won | 2 |
O’Nien misplaced just one of his 18 attempted passes against Everton, with that being one of his two attempted long balls.
But what impressed most at Hill Dickinson was just how solid he was defensively, as showcased by the fact that he won six of his eight duels in the game.
He made three huge tackles to deny the Toffees a chance on goal, while also making 10 clearances.
It was certainly a Man of the Match-worthy performance, and if he can replicate that against Chelsea, there should be no worries at all.
Regis Le Bris has the biggest team selection call of his Sunderland career
This game isn’t a make-or-break type for Sunderland, though it certainly is a huge encounter.
And with that comes plenty of decisions for Regis Le Bris to make in regard to the starting 11 he names on Sunday afternoon.
The Black Cats looked a different side in the second half of their clash with Everton, mainly due to the number of attacking players on the pitch.
They were free-flowing going forward and looked genuinely dangerous whenever they did.
Le Bris needs to balance that with some caution, knowing that anything less than a win against Chelsea will not be enough.
They themselves may need to win to qualify for Europe, showcasing just how much is riding on those 90 minutes at the Stadium of Light.
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