DeANDRE YEDLIN warmed up for his Sunderland debut by taking on Neymar and is hoping that his blistering pace can bring a different dimension on Wearside.

Yedlin was a deadline day acquisition for Sunderland, signing on loan until the end of the season from Tottenham. And while the USA international was ineligible to face his parent club on Sunday, he is at least match ready should he be called upon at Bournemouth this weekend.

The likes of Fabio Borini and the rest of Sunderland’s non-international players faced Hartlepool in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the fortnight break, but Yedlin enjoyed two 90-minute spells for his nation in games against Peru and Brazil.

Right-back Yedlin found himself marking Neymar for 45 minutes in Massachusetts, and feels his international action has been the perfect tonic despite Jurgen Klinsmann’s side going down 4-1.

“I got two 90 minutes under my belt during the international break, and that has definitely helped,” said the 22-year-old, who was in the stands for Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat to Spurs. “If I get the opportunity I will be ready to go for 90.

“It is never an easy game against Brazil. Once they pick up momentum they are one of the best teams in the world. They play so freely and are a very tough team. I thought we held up alright. The scoreline wasn't the best, but we can build on that.

“At Sunderland, it has been a great experience so far – nothing but positives.

“I got to see the game against Tottenham and, while it wasn't the result we wanted, it was a great performance. I am excited now to get on the field and hopefully win some games.

“It was frustrating that the way the fixtures fell meant I wasn't eligible for the game, but I am just looking forward now for the future with this team.

“I thought the team played great and we definitely had our chances to win it. We fought well, and the atmosphere in the stadium was great.

“Obviously the result is the next thing, but in terms of how we played it was great.”

Yedlin is primarily a right-back, but with his electric pace – he used to run in his high school’s track team but chose to pursue a career in football – he feels he could do a job for Dick Advocaat’s side on either wing.

“I ran track when I was younger, but I fell in love with soccer and stuck with that,” explained Seattle-born Yedlin.

“I had always had that love for the game. It wasn't a super-tough decision.

“That [pace] is definitely something that plays to my advantage, and not something you can really teach.

“In a league like this it takes so many other qualities to be a good player, and those are the things I am working on each day. Hopefully I can show them here at Sunderland.

"[I can play] left back, right back, right mid. I have never played left mid but I would be willing to try it, and I will try anywhere, really.

“The game today is so free-flowing these days that a guy playing centre-mid is going to find himself at right back during some point of the game."

Sunderland’s visit to Bournemouth could see Yedlin’s Black Cats debut, an opprtunity which the youngster is champing at the bit to take.

“The only game I have seen of theirs so far was when they played Liverpool,” said the defender. “That was a great team effort, which showed a lot about how they play, and it will be exciting to get that opportunity if I am involved in the game.”