Stefan Schwarz and Gavin McCann made their long awaited comebacks in Sunderland reserves' 3-2 win at Manchester City last night.

Schwarz marked his return with a stunning 35-yard goal as the reserves extended their unbeaten run to six games since the start of the season.

Schwarz and McCann have both been out with long-term ankle and knee injuries respectively and only bad weather has stopped them playing sooner.

City took the lead on 23 minutes when Clifford Byrne was judged to have pushed Allsopp and transfer-listed Gareth Taylor converted the duly awarded penalty.

Sunderland struck back immediately with two goals in four minutes. Peeters reduced the arrears on 34 minutes and then Schwarz converted a 35-yard free-kick past a bewildered Tommy Wright.

Milton Nunez then increased the lead further on 57 minutes before Rhys Day reduced the arrears. And it was only a fine save by Austrian keeper Jurgen Macho from striker Relon Mike which prevented City from equalizing.

Sunderland: Macho, Maley, McCartney, Thirlwell, Byrne, Butler, Peeters, McCann, (sub McGill), Nunez, Dichio, Schwarz. Unused Subs: Turns, Proctor, Convery and Ramsden.

MANCHESTER City: Wright, Crooks, Paisley, Whitley, Day, McCarthy, sub Jordan, Mason, Grant (sub Whelan), Taylor, Allsopp and Shuker (sub Mike) Subs unused: Hodgson Mears.

Attendanc: 713

Meanwhile consistent French midfielder Eric Roy, facing a further step-down in the pecking order at Sunderland after the return of Schwarz and McCann is ready to battle on to regain a first team place.

The vastly experienced 33-year-old, who had spells with Nice, Lyon and Olympique Marseille before deciding to try his luck in the England in a £200,000 deal just over a year ago, made 19 Premiership starts last season, plus five cup appearances.

But he has found first team opportunity much scarcer this season and hasn't started a League game since the opening 1-0 home win over Arsenal.

A groin injury didn't help the Frenchman's cause, and now he is back in full training he knows he faces fierce competition for one of the two central midfield places currently occupied by Scottish international Don Hutchison and England B man Darren Williams.

Tynesider Paul Thirlwell, who has had five League and Cup starts in the current campaign, is also pressing his claims, and Roy knows he faces a difficult time.

He is prepared to be patient though as he waits for his chance to come around again.

He said: "The most important thing for me was to recover fully from my groin injury. Now I need to play matches to be totally fit, but I played in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa reserves and I think I have shown I'm ready to return to the first-team squad.

"Now I want to give my best and show the coach that I am back and he can count on me."

Roy played in the two Worthington Cup ties against Luton and was a substitute in the victory at Bristol Rovers which earned Sunderland a glamour fourth-round home tie against Manchester United.

Now he waits to see if he will be involved again in Worthington Cup action in the formidable task against the Premier League Champions at the Stadium of Light on November 28.

Roy believes that if Sunderland can surmount this hurdle they can go all the way to qualify for Europe.

He said: "All the big sides can experience difficulties - Arsenal and Chelsea went out of the competition so now we may have the opportunity to do something great.

"Playing another big game against Manchester United is great for our supporters.

"It will be hard, but if we can win anything is possible - we could go on to win a place in the UEFA Cup."

l Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is hoping to head off a Viking raid by snapping up Sunderland midfielder Carsten Fredgaard.

The 24-year-old Dane has been on trial at the Reebok Stadium after failing to make his mark with Peter Reid's side since his £1.7m switch to Wearside 18 months ago.

Fredgaard has made just one substitute appearance in the league for Sunderland and he has been told he can leave.

Bolton chief Allardyce is keen to snap up the pacy left-sided player, but knows he will have to act quickly to land his man with Fredgaard's former club Lyngby ready to make a move.