ELLIOT EMBLETON has described how the prospect of becoming a first team regular at Sunderland is what persuaded him the time was right to commit to new terms.

The County Durham-born 20-year-old delayed signing a new two-year deal because he wanted to know that he would have a strong chance under Jack Ross this season.

Now, having played a key role over the course of pre-season building up towards this Saturday’s season opener with Oxford United, Embleton believes he has made the right choice – and he is determined to make the most of it.

Honeyman’s proposed £400,000 move to Hull City would help Embleton cause too.

He has seen other academy graduates make the step up and, in some cases, go on to even greater things, including seeing Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson become regulars for England.

“All I wanted was an opportunity to play. I spoke to the manager and things were positive so I cracked on and signed,” said Embleton, who is even in the manager’s thinking to start against the U’s.

“I played 30 games at Grimsby last season and it's men's football, it's in the league and it prepares you for coming back to Sunderland, then pushing on for the new season.

“I want to be playing at my age and there is a little bit of pressure there but I'm just enjoying playing football and it's what you've got to do.

“I've seen players like Pickford and Henderson come through and gone on to bigger things. The fans love the local lads. George Honeyman is captain and they seem to love it.”

Embleton has impressed in his performances during the summer and is keen to continue that once the campaign gets going for real. He can play in a variety of roles and is looking to show why he has been capped at England youth level many times for Sunderland.

“I came back this summer wanting to show the manager exactly what I can do and so far I think I've done that. The season starts next week so hopefully I've done enough,” he said.

“I'm a forward-thinking player and if I can get on the half-turn in that position and create chances, that's what I'm in the team for. I want to get on the front foot and try and score as well.

“We have been solid at the back inn pre-season. Even on Saturday against Heerenveen they must have had maybe one good chance if that and the goal they scored was from about 30 yards out.

“We are creating, we've just got to find the killer touch and put our chances away. If we do, it will take care of itself.

“There will be thousands more at the Stadium of Light for the Oxford game but we try to treat every game the same and get out of pre-season what we need to get out of it.

“The season starts on Saturday so we treated Heerenveen as a proper game. We didn't win but there were a lot of positives to take from it. There's been a togetherness and we've been quite solid at the back. We've been creating chances but the thing to improve on is just the finishing.”

Sunderland have made plenty of additions, after a slow start to the transfer window, and all look set to have an involvement against Oxford.

And Embleton, who was at the club 12 months ago too, thinks this summer’s preparations are a complete contrast to Ross’ first year when the club had just been taken over and the squad had to be completely reshaped.

“When the manager came in we weren't in the best of form but he's turned us around, we're attacking, looking to score goals and make the fans excited,” he said.

“Even against a good side on Saturday we gave them a good test and on another night we could have had three or four.”