Joel Lynch was eased back into action as Sunderland beat Carlisle United in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Academy of Light.
The Black Cats beat the Blues 5-2 at the Academy of Light, thanks to goals from Kyle Lafferty , Antoine Semenyo , Josh Scowen , Will Grigg , and Benji Kimpioka .
The game was primarily organised to give Sunderland's squad players such as Grigg and Kimpioka, and those who have been out of the starting line-up such as Lafferty, Semenyo, Scowen, match practice.
Phil Parkinson has made minimal changes to his starting XI since Christmas which has meant a raft of players, also including the likes of Lee Burge , Ethan Robson , and Duncan Watmore , along with new arrivals Declan John and Tommy Smith, are short of gametime.
Parkinson also took the opportunity to give Lynch his first outing since he was knocked unconscious in a collision with goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin at Portsmouth at the beginning of the month, and the centre-back came through an hour of the game against Carlisle.
Lynch quickly recovered from the concussion he suffered at Fratton Park, but he also suffered a rib injury in the collision and it is that problem which has sidelined him for the last three weeks.
Prior to the injury he had been a regular in Sunderland's back three but during his absence Tom Flanagan has seized his chance to impress, and Lynch may have to be patient as he tries to force his way back into the starting XI.
