TOBIAS HYSEN was not willing to reveal the exact details of why he was late for Sunderland's team coach last Friday but admits lessons have been learnt.

Hysen was recalled to the starting line-up against Stoke City on Tuesday night after being left out of the squad for the weekend trip to Barnsley following a bout of bad time keeping.

The Swede, along with Marton Fulop and Anthony Stokes, were all punished by manager Roy Keane and the latter was not even involved against the Potters on Tuesday, though he did play for the reserves yesterday.

But Keane did offer the olive branch to Hysen by handing him his opportunity to win back his place on the left at the first attempt.

And the former Djurgardens winger, who was also given a word of advice from his famous father Glenn after the incident, has taken on board the punishment dished out to him.

"Hopefully what happened has strengthened the resolve within the whole squad," said Hysen. "I was the first to be absolutely thrilled when they beat Barnsley without us.

"It would have been even more of an issue in the media had they lost after what went on. They got a result there and it has been a strange couple of days. I'm just looking forward to Saturday and the Hull game now.

"As I was in the squad for Stoke, I knew who had been left out, so I knew I had a chance to play. If the manager wanted to do anything else he would have just left me out all together. When I was starting, as always, I was thrilled.

"I was just pleased to be back, because that is behind us now. The manager said it would not influence the rest of the season and that's what happened so I am back involved, like everyone else."

The reasons for the late arrivals at the meeting point for the team coach have not been revealed and Hysen said: "Did we get caught in traffic? It was something like that.

"We did a stupid thing, we were late, but it is buried and on the Monday we saw everyone, as we did on the Sunday. Things happen, people make mistakes and you learn from them.

"We have got a bit of stick from the players but you have to take that on the chin and move on. I am not going to think about it anymore.

"My dad [the former Liverpool defender] also gave me stick. He asked what happened because he had read it in the papers. I told him and he just said 'don't worry, move on'.

"When I told him I was dropped, he asked the reason why I was late. But that doesn't matter here. If you're late, you're late. That's the way it is at this club. Next time we go a bit earlier."

The point claimed from the 2-2 draw with Stoke means Sunderland are three points from joint leaders Birmingham and Derby ahead of the visit of Hull.

The Tigers, who won at Luton on Tuesday to lift themselves out of the relegation zone, are expected to bring a strong travelling support to Wearside.

And, given Tuesday's attendance dropped by 5,000 from the crowd which witnessed the win over Derby in their last home match, Hysen is hoping for bigger numbers this weekend.

Sunderland will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to 13 matches. He said: "It's difficult to get people here when it's on Sky and it's in midweek. But they were happy we got a point, you could see that in their faces.

"There's a belief among them. It's amazing and you can't hear yourself think. Hopefully Saturday we will play better and there will be a bigger crowd.

"It looks like the promotion race will go all the way, with Birmningham, us and Derby all dropping points in midweek. It is going to be tight."