Gareth Ainsworth made bold prediction about Sunderland star in 2015, now he’s one win from Premier League promotion

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Former Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth predicted the remarkable rise of one Sunderland star ten years before this season’s Championship play-off final.

Sunderland face Sheffield United in the highly-coveted Championship play-off final on Saturday afternoon for a place in the Premier League promised land.

Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats beat Coventry City in their semi-final double header, courtesy of Dan Ballard’s last-second header, which sent the Stadium of Light stands into scenes of carnage.

The Blades’ route to the final was less dramatic, as Chris Wilder’s side beat Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate, to set up Saturday’s showpiece against Sunderland.

In 2015, English Football League veteran Gareth Ainsworth made a bold prediction about one current Sunderland star during his time at Wycombe Wanderers, who is now one win away from the top flight.

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Gareth Ainsworth’s Luke O’Nien prediction from Wycombe Wanderers comes true

Ainsworth was the head coach of Wycombe Wanderers from 2012 until 2023, and played a pivotal role in now-Sunderland star Luke O’Nien’s early career.

Versatile defender O’Nien featured 101 times, scoring 15 goals, for Wycombe after they signed him from non-league outfit Wealdstone.

O’Nien’s displays at Wycombe prompted Sunderland to secure his signature in the summer of 2018, ahead of their League One campaign.

In his seven years on Wearside, O’Nien has cemented himself as a modern-day Sunderland legend, donning the red and white stripes over 300 times ahead of Saturday’s Championship play-off final.

Ex-Wycombe boss Ainsworth was always aware of O’Nien’s potential to reach the pinnacle of English football, which he has the chance to do this weekend against the Blades, after making a bold prediction about the defender after his emergence at Wycombe.

After O’Nien netted the winner for Wycombe against Yeovil Town in 2015, Ainsworth told Wycombe Wanderers’ media: “He’s been fantastic for me… he’s going to be some player Luke.

“He’s sharper than anyone in the field, he proacts rather than reacts, he reads situations so well.

“The lads hate him in training, they’re so frustrated against him in training and so heaven knows what the opposition must feel against him on a Saturday.

“He just is the epitome of what Wycombe is at the moment, never say die, will never give in, and will give everything to win just that ball back never mind the match.

“Luke has been a revelation since he came in.”

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Luke O’Nien has chance to make Sunderland history vs Sheffield United

O’Nien tasted Wembley victory for Sunderland in the 2021/22 League One play-off final, starting under Alex Neil in the Black Cats’ 2-0 win over Wycombe, against his former head coach.

That League One play-off final victory remains Sunderland’s only play-off final win to date, with the club having a concerning record in the play-offs ahead of Saturday’s clash.

History in the competition for Sunderland does not bode well after the Black Cats lost the final dubbed the greatest play-off final ever, against Charlton Athletic after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Former Wycombe star O’Nien has already etched his name into Wearside folklore after his endearing seven-year stint at Sunderland, and now has the chance to make history under the famous arch against Sheffield United this weekend.