Source: Northern_Echo
Onuoha hoping numbers add up at Sunderland
HAVING embarked on a professional accountancy course during his time at Manchester City, it should be no surprise that Nedum Onuoha has proved such a valuable addition to the Sunderland squad. Not content with making up the numbers at the City of Manchester Stadium, the versatile defender signed a season- long loan at the Stadium of Light in an attempt to secure regular first-team football. After making an impressive debut in last weekend's opening- day draw with Birmingham City, the 23-year-old was part of the Black Cats squad that travelled to the Black Country ahead of this afternoon's opening away game with West Brom. He is determined to continue his footballing education in the North-East, having turned his back on tutoring of a different kind in order to pursue a career in professional football. I enjoyed my education, but there came a time when I had to give football my total focus, said Onuoha. I managed to finish my A-levels and I wanted to go on to do a degree course, but there was a lot going on with City and I couldn't fit it in. I did maths, business studies and IT at A-level and was thinking, What can I do on the back of this'. I chose a professional course in accountancy for a year, but it was the longest year of my life because it was so boring. I was thinking, I'm glad I didn't do this for a degree', although what I would have chosen I don't know. With my A-levels, I used to be on the team bus heading to games and I would be doing my homework. I took a fair bit of stick, but I wasn't too bothered. I ended up doing quite well. I got three As, so I was fairly happy. Had grades been awarded to Sunderland's right-backs under Steve Bruce, it's a safe bet straight As would not have been on the report card. Phil Bardsley struggled to establish himself in the starting line-up last season, while Alan Hutton impressed briefly, only to return to Tottenham when his loan agreement expired. Summer signing Marcos Angeleri had been expected to start the current campaign in the right-back berth, but his delayed entry into Britain meant Onuoha was asked to perform in the role last weekend. He will retain his position this afternoon, and while he is primarily known as a centrehalf, the former England Under-21 international insists he is more than happy to fill in on the flank. It doesn't bother me at all to play right-back, he said. At the end of the season, maybe people will be saying that's my best position, rather than centre-back. Where I've just come from (Manchester City), the fullbacks are expected to get forward as well. We had a lot of tricky wingers, but it was always the full-back's job to support them and that's something I feel comfortable with. Hopefully, I can continue to do that. As long as I'm in the side, I can fit into whatever position I'm asked to play. If I get the chance at rightback, I'm sure it will be fine. There was little prospect of Onuoha getting a chance anywhere if he had remained at Manchester City, with Roberto Mancini having hinted he would not be featuring in the club's 25-man Premier League squad. The Nigeria-born defender made just 13 senior appearances in the whole of last season, and while, theoretically at least, there is a chance of him returning to Eastlands next summer, his City career would already appear to be at an end. This whole 25-man squad thing is a bit weird, he said. A lot of players have been hearing they might be leaving, but then you still have to go in and train. It's really strange. Officially, people don't have to say anything until September 1, so it's been hanging over players' heads. I do think, though, that when it settles down, City will do well. For the next nine months, though, Onuoha's sole concern will be Sunderland, and while West Brom were on the wrong end of a six-goal hiding at Chelsea last weekend, he still expects a tough examination at the Hawthorns this afternoon. I don't think the result against Chelsea was ever going to change the way they play against us, he said. It's the first home game of the season and they'll be desperate to show it's going to be a good season for them.