Young Cats lose season opener as new signing returns to action

SUMMER signing Reece James was eased back into action after injury as Sunderland Under-23s opened their Premier League 2 campaign with a 2-1 home defeat by Stoke City.

Former Wigan defender James, who suffered a groin injury last month, completed a planned 45-minute outing at Eppleton before going off at half-time.

Sunderland led at the break thanks to Jake Hackett’s strike, but the Potters stormed back with two goals in the final 20 minutes from Oliver Shenton and Tyrese Campbell.

Stoke asked all the questions in the early stages, with Campbell striking the base of the right-hand post from 25 yards, and the big striker later headed wide when he should have done better.

Shenton also tried his luck, but his shot was straight at new Cats keeper Max Johnstone.

Sunderland gradually worked their way into the game and Lee Connelly drifted a shot wide before Hackett’s 27th-minute breakthrough.

Connor Shields’ low cross from the right was met by Hackett on the volley, and he cushioned his effort past Daniel Gyollai and into the net.

Johnstone was the busier keeper for much of the game but Gyollai was called upon to parry a shot from Connelly just after the hour.

Stoke levelled in the 72nd minute, when Simranjit Thandi’s right-wing cross was headed straight into the path of the unmarked Shenton, who nodded home from close range.

And 10 minutes later the turnaround was complete when Josh Tymon’s shot was saved by Johnstone, but Campbell was on hand to lash home from six yards.