Patrick Roberts has claimed that Dan Neil’s development was aided by Alex Neil’s decision to take him out of the firing line in the closing stages of the promotion-winning season in League One.
Neil had his breakthrough senior moment in the 2021-22 season, starting the vast majority of matches in the first two-thirds of the campaign as Sunderland established themselves in the promotion picture.
However, Alex Neil’s arrival as boss in February 2021 led to a change in his namesake’s fortunes, with Dan starting just one of the final 12 matches in the regular season.
Sunderland’s manager felt the homegrown midfielder was suffering from fatigue and did not play him in either leg of the semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday or the Wembley final against Wycombe.
By the time the following season began in the Championship, though, Neil was back in favour, and he started 42 of Sunderland’s 46 league matches in the 2022–23 campaign.
He has not looked back since, and while he might have been disappointed to be sidelined as his hometown club were winning promotion, Roberts feels the experience might well have been the making of the central midfielder.
“When I first came, Dan was obviously playing quite a lot,” said Roberts. “When I came in, he didn’t play. But I think that, in a way, helped him.
“He got over the line with promotion. He was involved and you could see what he was like. You knew he was a top player. But, maybe at that time, he was very young. Since then, he’s grown into a real leader off and on the pitch.”
Neil’s leadership qualities have seen him handed the captain’s armband, and while he might just be 23, the academy product clearly commands the respect of those around him.
Roberts is four years older than his skipper, but has been hugely impressed with the way Neil has taken to being captain, with his close emotional ties to the club adding another layer to his approach to leading the side.
“He’s a real character,” said Roberts. “He’s from here. His whole family obviously supports him and comes and watches him. You can see he’s proud every time he wears that armband.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Dan ever since I’ve come. He’s just showing what he can do and he’s a brilliant footballer. There’s not much I can say about him. He’s a good lad as well.”
