Luke O'Nien’s heartfelt tribute to departing Sunderland teammate Dennis Cirkin | OneFootball

Luke O'Nien has paid a heartfelt Instagram tribute to departing Sunderland teammate Dennis Cirkin, saying in a post that he was grateful for their years together at the Stadium of Light as Cirkin prepares to leave when his contract expires this summer.

Cirkin confirmed earlier this week that he will depart at the end of his deal. Alongside O'Nien, Trai Hume, Patrick Roberts, Dan Neil and Anthony Patterson, he was among a small group to have celebrated two promotions on Wearside in recent years.

The message reflected on five seasons, from successful campaigns to those that demanded introspection and improvement. It recalled Cirkin lining up on O'Nien's left, sometimes rescuing him after mistakes, and standing up when the team needed someone.

The tribute hailed Cirkin as a major architect of Sunderland's recent progress, linking it to the club's route into Europe. It also described him as having made O'Nien a better man, player and teammate.

O'Nien signed off by calling Cirkin family and wishing him good luck, posting several photos of the pair together.

Source: Sunderland Echo