Dylan McGeouch looked round the Stadium of Light and saw only the brightest of futures.

Sure, Sunderland have gone through two relegations in two turmoil-strewn seasons, are onto their sixth manager in three years and make Lehman Brothers appear the height of prudence when it comes to financial management.

But where others see spectacular demise, the Scotland international senses huge opportunity.

McGeouch read former Hibernian team-mate Florian Kamberi’s remarks about how he didn’t want to play in English League One as Sunderland were “a big club in a small league”, and that playing in the Scottish top flight at Easter Road was far more enticing.

“That’s his opinion, that’s the way he sees it and he’s done well for Hibs,” said McGeouch, who moved to Sunderland in the summer after playing at the Edinburgh outfit for the past four years. “He was great and I loved playing with him.

“But for me it was time to move on, to try to get down to England and see what I can do down there.

“You’ll not get a bigger club than Sunderland to do that and if we can get it right, build momentum, it’s a great place to be.”

Where McGeouch and Kamberi certainly still see eye-to-eye is on their respective managers. The Swiss striker commented Neil Lennon was his main reason for wanting to continue at Hibs, while McGeouch says Jack Ross, who moved south from St Mirren in the summer, was a huge influence in him choosing Sunderland. “I wanted to test myself in England and I heard a lot of good things about Jack,” said 25-year-old McGeouch. “He was on the phone quite a lot and showing me how much he wanted me to go down.

“He asked me to come and have a look at the facilities and, honestly, they were outstanding. The training ground and the stadium, it’s a Premier League club – and obviously with the fan base they’ve got too.

“It’s just obviously where they are just now, but the manager has come in and wants to build the team, and hopefully we can be where we want to be at the end of the season.”

That very much is being promoted. Yet, where Sunderland are just now, the third tier of English football, may hurt the incredibly loyal and passionate fans who worship at the 49,000 capacity Stadium of Light deeply, but McGeouch insists he has no trepidations of plying his trade at that level.

“You want to test yourself at the highest level you can get but the size of the club was overshadowing everything else about the position they are in,” McGeouch, who had a spell at Coventry City on loan while a Celtic player in 2014, added.

“If we can get it right – because this club is huge – then it’s going to be a great few years if we get up.

“So, I’ve no concerns really about Sunderland being in League One.”

McGeouch, who rather uniquely played for both Celtic and Rangers as a youth, was reportedly wanted back at Ibrox, but the midfielder insisted: “I honestly don’t know. I saw a bit in the papers but couldn’t really comment on it much more than that, to be honest.”

It was McGeouch’s form for Hibernian last season that saw him rewarded with his first international caps in Scotland’s trip to play Peru and Mexico.

McGeouch revealed he did not speak to Scotland manager Alex McLeish before choosing Sunderland but did tell the national manager on the trip that he was intent on playing in England.

“I spoke to him a little bit when I was away and he was asking what my thoughts were,” said McGeouch. “I knew Aberdeen had shown interest but I was clear that I wanted to go down to England. With my contract being up it was a good chance to go down the road. When Sunderland came along I was desperate to go down.”

With his international career just begun, McGeouch, who pulled the strings from midfield as Sunderland demolished St Mirren 6-0 in Paisley on Saturday, has no concerns being in League One may hinder that progression either.

“No,” he insisted. “It’s up to the manager to decide from my performances – hopefully he will come to some games. It’s the manager’s choice, but you saw Charlie Mulgrew playing in League One last year, doing well and being part of the international scene.

“So it’s not something I’m worrying about. I’m concentrating on doing well for myself, for Sunderland and getting the club back to where it should be.”