Duncan Watmore completed a planned 60-minute run-out on Monday as Sunderland under-23s lost to Middlesbrough in the Premier League 2.
Clocking his first minutes in the tank in over a year, Watmore started before later having the chance to mark his return to action with a goal when the Lads won a penalty.
However, it wasn’t meant to be as Boro stopper Brad James made the save to deny the 24-year-old.
As for the action, Jake Hackett’s first-half free-kick was cancelled out by three Boro goals in 10 second-half minutes - from Connor Malley, Daniel Ward and Stephen Walker – as they romped to victory at Eppleton.
Speaking about Watmore’s return, Elliott Dickman, Sunderland under-23s’ boss, said: “There are a lot of people who have invested a lot of time and effort to this point.
“From the first-team staff to the under-23s, the physios and medical staff. It has been a long process, but Duncan has been very professional.
“He has done smashing in the 60 minutes. When you have an injury like he has that will always be the test to see how you handle knocks. but you aren’t going to get that unless you play competitive matches.
“He has come through the process well. He is good for the team, he is very professional, and he understands what he needs to do.”
