ELLIOT Embleton has spoken about the importance of last season's loan move to Blackpool after signing a new long term contract at Sunderland. 

The midfielder has put pen-to-paper on a long term deal with the Black Cats that will see his stay at the club extended until 2025. 

Durham born Embleton has featured 33 times in a Sunderland shirt and scored two goals since coming through the youth academy. 

“Obviously I’m at home and my family are going to be so proud. They get to watch me every week" Embleton said. 

“It means a lot me to coming through from the age of six, working my way up and signing a long term contract."

Embleton spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool to go in search of regular game time. However, Embleton helped the Tangerines to go on to have a sizzling run of form culminating in their promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs. 

The 22-year-old added: “Obviously going out on loan and getting promotion builds your confidence. The loan helped us get minutes and obviously coming off the year with stop start injuries. Just to get the minutes, get on the pitch and show what I can do.

“Coming back, I’ve had a full pre-season with the gaffer and playing the way he wants us to play.

“Going out on loan was just to get the game time. At the time, it was best for me to go out and find somewhere where I could get that. It was always the plan to come back in pre-season and work under him.

"Obviously we’ve had a good start to the season so I’m happy with that.

“We’ve been in the top two for most of the weeks now. It is a long season and we’re only ten games in but if we keep on playing the way we have been playing, we should be right up there."