Sunderland have enjoyed a solid return to life in the Championship this season after spending four seasons in the third tier of English football.

The Black Cats won promotion back to the second division by winning the League One play-offs under Alex Neil in the 2021/22 campaign and currently sit 11th in the table after 13 matches.

One of the club's key players this season has been the versatile Luke O'Nien, who has been relied upon by Neil and since the Scotsman's departure to Stoke, Tony Mowbray.

The Englishman has played in 12 of Sunderland's league games and been called upon at right centre-back, centre-back and central midfield so far, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.00.

O'Nien has offered versatility throughout his career as he has played over 35 matches at centre-back, right-back, central midfield, and defensive midfield to date.

He was previously described as a "revelation" by former manager Jack Ross and Mowbray could unearth the next version of the former Wycombe man by unearthing a player from the academy - Zak Johnson.

The defender made his first-team debut off the bench in the EFL Trophy at the age of 16 last season and this shows that Lee Johnson felt he was ready for first-team exposure, despite still being in his teens.

He was handed a three-year professional contract in the summer and the youngster was described as an "exciting" player to watch out for, as he has "key defensive attributes", by journalist Josh Bunting.

The youngster has played ten matches as a right-back and 21 as a centre-back for the Black Cats at youth level and this suggests that he has the versatility to fulfil a similar role to O'Nien in that he can play across the defence, as a full-back or centrally in a four or as a wide central defender in a back three - where the ex-Wycombe man has spent a lot of his time this term.

Johnson has made himself a regular in the U21 side, playing 20 Premier League 2 games since the start of last season, before his 18th birthday, which shows how impressive he has been as he has been able to rise up the ranks quickly instead of being stuck in the U18s.

The challenge for him now is to impress Mowbray enough in training to earn himself a league debut for the club in the Championship this season or in forthcoming campaigns. If he can do that and is able to adjust to playing senior football then he could be the next O'Nien for Sunderland - providing quality displays in multiple positions at the back.