Roker Roundup: Ex-Sunderland youth player is hot property in Europe; Oviedo talks in Costa Rica

Oviedo reveals improvement

Bryan Oviedo is on international duty with Costa Rica and has been speaking about his experiences with Sunderland this season.

Talking to La Nacion in his homeland, Oviedo says his experiences in the Championship and League One with Sunderland have made him a better player:

Personally, I learned many things, but one of the most important ones is that one should not stop striving wherever it is, there were very difficult times in Sunderland because I was on the bench and third choice, but in the end I played the last few months.

In sports this year I improved a lot on the defensive side, I always tried to apply myself very well. The Championship and League One helped me with the intensity of the return, it helped me to have security in the brand.

The left-back struggled in the days after the game but says he is now ready to give his all for his country:

It was difficult, it was not what we wanted and we expected, the first two days were difficult emotionally, but that has already happened, now we just have to continue and do good work in Costa Rica.

Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

Academy product in demand

Sunderland academy product Michael Woud left the club last summer to join Eredivisie side Willem II and although he has not forced his way into the side, he did recently earn himself a new contract that keeps him at the Dutch club until 2022.

His potential has not gone unnoticed elsewhere either, as French site footmercato claim there are a number of clubs interested in the New Zealand international.

According to the report, top flight clubs from Germany, Portugal and France are all interested in the goalkeeper, with Monaco in particular singled out as being interested in Woud as a long-term option.

Quinn praises Henderson

Former Sunderland player and chairman Niall Quinn has been praising academy product Jordan Henderson after the Liverpool captain lifted the Champions League on Saturday evening.

Speaking to Virgin Media Sport, Quinn says the midfielder was always striving for more, even when he was down the pecking order in the Sunderland youth teams:

He comes from a great family and he believes in hard work.

He’s an example I would give to any young footballer.

He was totally committed to improving himself, to becoming a better player and Roy Keane was always very good to him, encouraging him.

He was way down the pecking order in the academy but he’s a man who’s always striving for more and he has a great attitude and great man to have around the place.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images