NECTAR Triantis is giving Sunderland something to think about ahead of the summer with the youngster impressing after a surprise position switch on loan at Hibs.

The 20-year-old endured a difficult start to life in Scotland and, after an initial run in the side at centre-half, where he's played most of his football, lost his place in the Hibs team.

But Hibs boss Nick Montgomery was Triantis's manager at Central Coast Mariners so was always confident the Aussie would show his quality once he'd found his feet.

Montgomery used Triantis as a midfielder in a couple of appearances from the bench and after catching the eye in that unfamiliar role, the defender was handed a start and impressed in midfield in the weekend Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers.

READ MORE:

Montgomery said: "Look, he's really versatile. He can play centre-back, he can play six and if you are a deep-lying six, a defensive midfielder, it's a similar position.

“He's technically very good on the ball. He's still young and he's had success in his relatively short career. But he went six months, really, without playing after he moved to Sunderland, which is a big move for a young player.

“You could see against Rangers, especially in the second half, that he is a player who can really dictate play, and physically he is very good. I've been really happy with Nectar since he came in - and I know he can be better. But every game and every training session is an opportunity for him to improve.”

Triantis made just two Championship appearances for Sunderland in the first half of the season before the Black Cats sanctioned his Hibs loan in the hope he'd benefit from more regular football.