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This will be a welcome addition to Sunderland

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Sunderland fans hoping for an instant return to the Premier League following relegation will have been left bitterly disappointed, now more concerned about falling through the trap door into League One than bursting through the top barrier and back into the top flight.

Simon Grayson’s side sit 23rd in the Championship having not won since August, not registering a home win since December 2016. The latter statistic perhaps even more the cause for the worry lingering around the Stadium of Light.

The return of Duncan Watmore in the 2-2 draw at Preston last week did rejuvenate an attacking line previously lacking purpose, but there is another man recovering from long term injury, and said to be available for the first team ‘very soon’, who’s return could be as advantageous.

Paddy McNair who has been missing since rupturing his ACL in the 3-0 against Hull back in November, will play a part in the under-23’s game against Hertha Berlin tonight, a huge step forward in his return to first team action.

The Northern Ireland international who has was preferred as a centre-half by Louis Van Gaal in his time at Manchester United, and has been deployed in defensive and advanced midfield roles for club and country, could prove very useful to Sunderland’s patchwork squad.

The versatility of the 22-year old can potentially plug gaps in the Sunderland squad, as Simon Grayson continues to tinker with his defensive and midfield partnerships, clearly still in dark as to what his best team is.

Despite McNair’s label as a midfielder, the struggling boss may opt to slot him into the back four, a position where he was competent enough to impress Louis Van Gaal.

McNair also impressed in a brief spell as an attacking midfielder in David Moyes’ side, scoring twice in a League Cup win at QPR.

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Wherever Grayson sees fit to play him, Sunderland are in an increasingly dire situation and McNair’s restoration to the first team picture will be a welcome addition.

It’s hard to issue lots of blame on Simon Grayson, as the former Preston North End manager was not left with much to play with.

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