Ahmed Elmohamady believes he was unfairly sidelined by former Sunderland coach Martin O'Neill during his spell at the Stadium of Lights.

The Irishman took over the Black Cats in January 2012 from Steve Bruce, and since then the Egyptian winger has been warming the bench.

The skilful 25-year-old player was loaned-out to championship side Hull City on a season-long loan deal.

"He [O'Neill] chose certain players and dropped others; I was unjustly sidelined," Elmohamady was quoted as saying by the Sunderland Echo.

Bruce, who first brought Elmohamady to the Premier League in 2010 from Egyptian side Enppi, brought him back to action, and the Egyptian player repaid his coach's faith in him by helping Hull City to promotion and winning the fans' player of the season award.

"It [promotion] kind of compensated for the rough year at Sunderland," Elmohamady concluded.

The Tigers are believed to have agreed to a £2-million deal with Sunderland to sign Elmo, but they have yet to agree on personal terms.

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