Back in the squad, back on the pitch, and back in the goals. Ross Stewart was back with a bang to help Sunderland a earn a point at Hull City.
The Scotland international's three-and-a-half month absence has cast a long shadow over the Black Cats' season with a progress report on Stewart's rehab from a thigh injury becoming as much a feature of a Tony Mowbray press conference as chocolates and biscuits. But after a false start earlier in the week when Mowbray trailed Stewart's return against West Brom only for a minor niggle to see him held back as a precaution, the day finally arrived on Saturday at the MKM Stadium.
And after being introduced on the hour, Stewart needed only 15 minutes to show Sunderland fans what they had been missing. One perfectly-weighted pass from fellow-sub Patrick Roberts, a burst of explosive pace from Stewart to leave two Hull defenders trailing in his wake, and a cool finish that left Tigers keeper Matt Ingram no chance.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray hints at when Ross Stewart could return to Sunderland's starting XI
It was Stewart's sixth goal of the season, and it meant he reaches the midway point of the season as the club's top scorer despite having played only a third of their games. If only Stewart's latest goal had been enough to deliver victory.
But just before Stewart came on, Sunderland had been reduced to ten men when Elliot Embleton was shown a straight red card - harshly - for a clumsy high challenge on Ryan Woods. And that meant they had to withstand late pressure from Hull, with sub Ozan Tufan ultimately salvaging a point for Liam Rosenior's side.
It was hard to argue that Hull did not deserve a draw, as they had dominated the second half and should have taken the lead from the penalty spot just after half-time when it was still 11-vs-11, only for Colombian striker Oscar Estupinan to drag his kick wide and let the Black Cats off the hook. All in all, Sunderland will reflect on this as a good point away from home, given they played the final half-hour shorthanded, while Hull will see it as a missed opportunity for the same reason.
Stewart's return was a major positive, as was that of defender Dan Ballard who had been out even longer - since mid-August - with a broken bone in his foot, although in an otherwise impressive comeback it was the former Arsenal man who gave away the penalty for a foul on Regan Slater. But just as two players returned to the fold after long-term injuries, so two others replaced them in the treatment room.
Ballard had been expected to be eased back into action but was instead needed inside the opening quarter-hour after Danny Batth limped off with a calf injury which may well end his ever-present record this season. And Embleton's red card was shown as the midfielder exited on a stretcher having landed awkwardly following his challenge on Woods, and he was taken straight to hospital by ambulance.
Mowbray would not speculate on the nature of the injury in the immediate aftermath, but it was clearly serious and it is likely to keep Embleton out for a lengthy spell. Injuries aside, however, Sunderland have reached the midway point of the season sitting comfortably in midtable - 12th.
They are seven points above the relegation zone and just three points outside the play-off places. Considering they have been without Stewart and Ballard since August, Ellis Simms for two months, and assorted others for shorter spells, it has been a good first half of the campaign by any standards for a newly-promoted side.
And the scene is now set for further improvement in the second half.
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray fears Elliot Embleton has suffered a serious injury in draw at Hull
- Hull City 1-1 Sunderland player ratings as Stewart returns with a goal but Embleton sees red
- Sunderland talisman Ross Stewart returns with a goal as ten-man Black Cats earn 1-1 draw at Hull
- Tony Mowbray makes big Edouard Michut prediction as Sunderland prepare for Hull City test
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray explains the difference Liam Rosenior has made at Hull City
