WHEN Sunderland defender Dennis Cirkin made the move up to the North for a permanent switch from Tottenham Hotspur, he had no first-team experience and had only played Under-23’s football in the capital. Fast forward just over nine months, he’s played a major role in helping Sunderland back to the Championship as part of his first campaign in senior football and got the chance to play again in the capital. This time, it was at Wembley. As far as first seasons in senior football, it’s been one to savour and the defender feels it could not have gone any better.

Cirkin came to Wearside as a raw 19-year-old ready to make his mark at one of the biggest clubs outside the Premier League with Sunderland ready to deploy their youth policy on the side. He was part of an influx of young players brought to the club which included Niall Huggins, Callum Doyle, Leon Dajaku and Thorben Hoffman followed up in January by Jack Clarke, Jay Matete and Trai Hume.

While there has been teething problems at times, Cirkin has largely lived up to the promise and fulfilled the remit of being the club’s go-to left sided defender. Whether it’s a left wing-back, left back or left centre-half, Cirkin has been a top addition this season and it’s a campaign he won’t forget.

“Honestly it’s unreal. First season in professional football for me, it’s unreal. I couldn’t tell you the feeling” he admitted in the early stages of the conclusion of their League One play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers.

“Even in the first place making the move, to me Sunderland is my club now. Playing 100% in every match, this is what we wanted. Yeah, we got where we wanted to be.

“It’s unreal. I think it’s something that I can’t take in right now. It’s too much. I think in a few days when everything is settled down, you will look back at it and it will be amazing.”

41 appearances this season has made Cirkin a regular in the side which has been the perfect kind of development for his career. “I played no senior football before this” he continued. “I couldn’t ask for more to be honest. I think this has been the perfect move for me.”

For now, there will be some downtime for the 20-year-old with pre-season just a matter of weeks away before the start of the Championship season on the 30th July. The EFL season starts slightly earlier this season due to the winter break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

A summer of change is expected at the Stadium of Light as the club aligns it’s aims for next season in the second tier. While it’s not the concern of the England Under-20 international for the time being, he has high hopes for what the club can do next season.

Cirkin added: “I’m not really looking at that right now. I’m just celebrating but it will be a good test.

“I feel like we were never meant to be in this league. Even before I came here, I always looked at Sunderland and thought they were a Championship or Premier League club.

“I think next year, when we can get to play some football, I think personally we can do well in that league.”

Cirkin’s addition to the team has proven to be a vindication of the club’s emphasis on bringing promising talent to Wearside. With another two years to run on his current deal, Cirkin continues to be one of Sunderland’s main players for the future as they look forward to a season in the second tier of English football.