Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff got through 90 minutes of the mini Tyne-Wear derby unscathed after being relegated to the reserves.
In an eyebrow-raising couple of months, the 20-year-old has found himself frozen out of the first-team picture after last appearing in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League.
Having been assured of his fair share of opportunities, and a development plan after turning down summer moves to Udinese in Serie A and Schalke 04 in Germany, Longstaff has played just five times this term.
Longstaff played the full game at the Academy of Light as Newcastle secured a 1-1 draw in Premier League 2.
In a sorry state of affairs for North-East football - once dubbed the hotbed of new talent - Sunderland sit third bottom and Newcastle sit second bottom of the second tier of English reserve team football.
Sunderland had gone ahead in the first half through Josh Hawkes after nine minutes but Newcastle hit back on Wearside two minutes later.
United's Adam Wilson levelled the scores with a close-range finish but neither side could find a winner and it ended 1-1 despite late chances for Elliot Anderson and Joe White.
UNITED U23s: Langley, Brookwell, Cross, Francillette, McEntee, M.Longstaff, White, Wilson (Flaherty 46), Young, Anderson, Allan (Indalecio 64)
Referee: Kane Adams
