Sunderland boss Roy Keane has likened local product Grant Leadbitter with his former Manchester United teammate, Paul Scholes.
Keane said: "Since I've been at the club he's been fantastic and a credit. He's one of the people you look forward to coming in to work with.
"He's a similar type of player to Paul Scholes. Obviously, he's not reached his levels or the consistency but even in the way he trains, his enthusiasm, he seems to love training and playing."