Former Celtic winger Patrick Roberts was sent to play for Sunderland's reserve side on Monday evening - and was hooked after an hour of their 3-0 defeat to Stoke.
Roberts has struggled to find a home since his loan stint at Parkhead under Brendan Rodgers, spending time on loan at five more clubs before he left Manchester City permanently in January.
The one-time £7m man was allowed to leave City following an ill-fated stint at Troyes in France and was given the chance to rebuild his career at Sunderland.
But he has struggled for football at the League One side having not started a single game so far.
Alex Neil gave Roberts 12 minutes as a substitute in his first game in charge but he's been left on the bench for recent clashes with Burton Albion and Wigan.
And on Monday he was sent to play for the B-team in Premier League 2.
However a young Sunderland side were trounced 3-0 by Stoke.
And he managed just 63 minutes before reserve team boss Michael Proctor replaced him with Harry Gardiner.
He may have been keeping Roberts fresh for first-team involvement but the senior side don't play again until Saturday against Charlton.
And whether Roberts plays any part in that one may be telling about his future.
