George Honeyman on living the dream at Sunderland - but why he was right to leave

George Honeyman says he lived the dream by graduating from Sunderland's youth academy to captain the first team - but believes he made the right decision to leave the club for Hull City this summer.

Jack Ross made Honeyman his Black Cats captain ahead of last season, with the midfielder captaining his side at Wembley twice - albeit both unsuccessfully.

And having failed to achieve promotion, the 24-year-old, who had been at the club since he was ten, left for Championship side Hull.

And explaining the decision to leave, he told the Football League Paper: "In my head I was never thinking about leaving Sunderland this year but it would have been crazy to stay and, if anything, I have been pushed out of my comfort zone now which I am grateful for.

“I pretty much lived the academy player’s dream at Sunderland and the club has been my whole life up until now.

“I joined when I was ten, spent my whole career there, made lifelong friends and then turned into the club captain – what more could you want really as a Sunderland fan?

“You have to keep a level head when you are playing and that fan side of things gets taken out of it. I will always be looking out for Sunderland and supporting them, though.”

Since joining Hull Honeyman has started two of a possible five league games, with one other subs appearance. They're currently 20th in the Championship league table, but the former Black Cats has revealed that they are targeting a spot in the play-offs this term.

George Honeyman making his Hull City debut against Reading (Hull Live)

“The boss is adamant that we need to make the play-offs this year and from what I have seen so far, there’s no reason why we can't do that,” he said. “I’m one of those players that wants to be playing every week so I will be doing everything I can to keep my shirt and if I can contribute eight or ten goals from midfield, I will be a happy man.

“The results haven’t been amazing but I don’t think we’ve made a bad start – the  manager has a specific way he wants us to play and that is only going to get better with time.

“As long as the team is doing well with me in it, that will satisfy me.”