Hal Robson-Kanu hails Luke O'Nien after Sunderland secure Europa League place | OneFootball

Hal Robson-Kanu has praised Luke O'Nien after the Sunderland defender helped the club clinch Europa League qualification.

The former Premier League forward said in a LinkedIn post that O'Nien's route from early setbacks to European football embodies resilience, urging players to persist when doubt is loud and recognition is scarce.

O'Nien, 31, was released by Watford earlier in his career and dropped into non-league before rebuilding his path. At one stage, his father contacted EFL clubs in search of an opportunity.

He earned a move to Sunderland from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018 and, after a difficult debut against Charlton Athletic, fought to secure his future.

Arriving as a midfielder, he has since covered full-back and centre-back, with adaptability and leadership prized inside the dressing room.

A key figure in the club's resurgence, he helped lift Sunderland from League One to the Premier League and on to continental qualification, becoming a fans' favourite along the way.

Source: Sunderland Echo