Sunderland left back Bryan Oviedo has revealed that he 'struggled emotionally' following Sunderland's play-off final defeat against Charlton a week ago.

The Costa Rican international had a patchy season for the Black Cats, finding himself on the bench for much of the campaign but coming back into the side as they entered the final straight.

The 29-year-old appeared 31 times for Sunderland, playing every minute of the failed play-off campaign. That involvement hit him hard, as he explained.

"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," he told Costa Rican outlet La Nacion as he prepares for CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The season was a learning curve for the former Everton man, with a spell on the sidelines and a failed move to West Brom behind him. He revealed exactly what it was he felt he could take away from the League One campaign.

[ad_pod ]

"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."

Oviedo has been capped 46 times by his country and featured in the 2018 World Cup in Russia against Brazil and Switzerland.

The Verdict

Oviedo won a lot of friends for his attitude last season. He is one of the players left over from the calamitous collapse of the last few seasons, but he showed great application and focus in the third tier.

Even when he was out of the side he remained committed to the cause. He's bound to win a few new friends with his candid honesty about the play-off disappointment,