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DeAndre Yedlin insists Sam Allardyce’s defensive mindset “made something click in my head” as the Sunderland loan star improved as last season wore on.

And while the US international says he grew to “hate” some of the backline drills Allardyce imposed on training sessions, he admits it paid off in the long run.

Yedlin spent last season at the Stadium of Light on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

He is currently on Copa America duty while Allardyce mulls over a permanent deal for the 22-year-old.

The right-back started the season unconvincingly, but made notable strides during the second half of the campaign as the Black Cats scrambled to safety.

And Yedlin says much of that can be attributed to Allardyce’s coaching, especially at the back.

I have to give a lot of credit to Big Sam, the manager,” he said.

“I don’t know what it was, but he made something click in my head. Maybe it’s his defensive approach to playing.

“Every Thursday every defender would do strictly defensive drills, no attacking at all. And we hated it, because it’s not the most fun thing to do, but at the end of the day it helps.

“And you could see towards the end of the season, the last 11, 12 games, we became a lot stronger as a defensive unit.”