Sunderland have put themselves in a prime position to earn promotion to the Championship next season after progressing to the play-off final at Wembley against Wycombe Wanderers this month.

Since Alex Neil arrived in February, he has transformed the team and gone unbeaten in 16 of his 17 games in charge, deservedly earning their golden opportunity to get back into the second tier of English football, and supporters are surely delighted with the progress the Black Cats have made in the last few months.

That being said, the 40-year-old can only take partial credit for the impressive performances we have seen come from the Black Cats over the last few months, with some players offering huge match-winning moments which have led their team to victory and put them in a position to challenge for a place in the Championship next season.

One player in particular who has been a formidable driving force for Sunderland in the latter stages of the campaign is Elliot Embleton, who has provided game-changing performances towards the end of the season which won them vital points in their pursuit of a place in the play-offs.

The midfielder, who was dubbed a "class act" by Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie, was integral in Sunderland's final few games of the League One campaign, with a winning goal against Oxford United and an assist for the winner against Gillingham earning the Black Cats vital points in the push for promotion.

Those decisive contributions earned the 23-year-old high praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who hailed the Sunderland ace as the "huge difference" in the team ahead of the last few fixtures of the season, tweeting: "He’s made a huge difference and has contributed to 6 points that may be crucial at the end of the season."

With eight goals and eight assists in 47 appearances this term from his role in the middle of the park, there is no doubt that the young midfielder has a huge future at Sunderland and should be unleashed in the starting line-up more often whether or not the Black Cats rise to the Championship next season.

AND in other news: Neil heading for Sunderland disaster over "quality" star who's got the "X-Factor"