Sunderland defender Bryan Oviedo admitted he struggled emotionally following the League One play-off final defeat but feels has 'learned many things' from a difficult season in League One.
Oviedo found himself in and out of the team throughout this campaign and saw a January deadline day loan move to West Brom fall through at the eleventh hour.
A couple of niggling issues also affected Oviedo's season but despite competition from both Denver Hume and Reece James, the 29-year-old ended the campaign as the Black Cats' first choice left-back.
Oviedo has now linked up with the Costa Rica squad ahead of this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup and reflecting on his season, he believes he has improved a lot defensively following a season in the third tier.
"Personally, I learned many things," Oviedo explained to La Nacion.
"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."
Oviedo started in last month's League One play-off final defeat to Charlton and was notably emotional at full-time, banging the floor in frustration.
It could well prove to be his final competitive game for the Wearsiders with the club keen to trim down their wage bill.
Given Oviedo was signed in 2016, he is still being paid Premier League level wages and there is likely to be interest in his services this summer. Club Brugge and West Brom have shown interest in the past.
But reflecting on the season and Sunderland's play-off failure, Oviedo insists his focus is now fully on his summer with Costa Rica as opposed to his club future.
"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."
