AIDEN McGEADY making his long-awaited return to action was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise deeply disappointing day for Sunderland at Burton Albion.

The Irish winger was a second-half substitute during Saturday’s game that ended in defeat, bringing to an end the Black Cats’ unbeaten start to the season and there could be few complaints

Sunderland were poor, particularly in a first half when they conceded twice and their day was worsened when they lost striker Charlie Wyke to injury, but manager Jack Ross can now at least call on McGeady.

The Republic of Ireland international winger, who had not played since Sunderland lost 2-1 to Burton in April last season after reporting back for pre-season training in June with a calf injury, made his return in another 2-1 defeat to the Brewers.

Ross was pleased to see McGeady return, saying: “I thought he gave us a real spark when he came on. It was a big ask of him because he hasn’t trained in four months.

“At the end of the game he probably looked a bit leggy but what he probably did was spark us in that period where we scored and had other opportunities. The thing about Aiden is he does care.

“I’ve known him for a while because of playing in Scotland and he’s a character. He does care about his football. He cares about having been relegated, he cares about being in this league and wanting to get out of it. That helps as well.

“You need characters that are vocal in that sense because he’s vocal about it. Having him back amongst the group and having that drive and having his ability in that area of the pitch, he’s going to be an asset for us. It’s a case of introducing him at the right times as well.”

While McGeady returning is a boost for Ross, he is facing the prospect of losing Wyke, who was stretchered off in the first half on Saturday with a knee injury.

The match was his first league start since joining from Bradford City in the summer, when he was sidelined with a knee problem, and he hurt the same knee at Burton in a collision with Burton’s debutant goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov.

He said: “It was a significant impact when he challenged the goalkeeper and it’s the same knee that was injured when he came to the club.

“He’s in a bit of pain. Sometimes these things settle and they’re not as bad as you fear, but they can go the other way as well.

“We’ll look at him for the next 24 hours, but it’s a blow for him because he’s still working his way back to full match sharpness.”

Ross did not feel Evtimov’s challenge was worthy of punishment, saying: “At the time I thought it was reckless but I’ve watched it again and I think it was a collision.

“A foul in the second half on Lynden Gooch was worse, but the one on Charlie was just a collision.”