Cats selection call that hinted at a long overdue breakthrough
One of Lee Johnson's very first decisions after becoming Sunderland head coach was to move Aiden McGeady into the starting XI.
It was partly because he felt that, short of match fitness, he would make more of an impact from the start, rather than as a late substitute.
It was also partially symbolic,to demonstrate that this was a fresh start and that the slate had been wiped clean.
Johnson knew he would need McGeady and so far the signs have been encouraging.
Understandably, the 34- year-old remains some way short of his absolute sharpest and most incisive but there have already been some key contributions.
There was a small irony, though, in that initial Johnson decision.
It meant that Elliot Embleton dropped to the bench, leaving him still yet to start successive league games for Sunderland.
Injury has played a big part in that particular statistic, but that he and Jack Diamond, amongst others, featured so little under Phil Parkinson was a key source of contention both within the fan base and behind the scenes.
After all, the Black Cats boss had pointed to their rise as a key factor in his continued decision to exclude McGeady.
That rhetoric was never matched by the reality, though, and it was perhaps telling that in Parkinson's final game what seemed like a natural opportunity to give Embleton a chance saw Danny Graham join Charlie Wyke up front.
Part of the reason why Johnson landed the job was that he could point to an excellent recordat Bristol City in progressing young talent.
The new footballing structureat the club, led by Kristja an Speakman, have placed player development at the very heart of their strategy.
The new head coach conceded that the first impressions when it came to Embleton were not great.
He had struggled a little in the 1-1 draw to Burton days earlier and having processed the disappointment of being dropped to the bench late on, he had been a peripheral figure from the bench as the Black Cats fell to defeat against Wigan Athletic.
Yet this felt like a cycle that needed to be broken and served to surmise the challengefor both Johnson and the club on youth development.
Promotion remains essential for Sunderland and for that, they need results quickly.
If it's the more experienced players who are producing regularly, then so be it.
More generally, Johnson has also pointed that it must not, at any stage, be too easy for an academy graduate to break into the first team. Every appearance has to be earned if the right standards are to be maintained.
Equally crucial, though, is that a young player making their way gets the opportunity to build some rhythm and confidence within the system and the squad.
With six months left on his contract, the fear was that Embleton would be left in a situation where the onus was on him to produce gamechanging magic in brief cameos or face a return to the bench (at best).
All of which makes the recentbreakthrough all the more encouraging.
After that shaky start, Johnson was effusive in his praise for how Embleton had applied himself at the Academy of Light, stating that he was with regularity ranking as one of his top three performers in training.
The Papa John’s Trophy clash with Port Vale brought opportunity and Embleton took a stop forward.
It was not a virtuoso performance but it was nevertheless a strong one and above all else, demonstrated a key attribute that Johnson feels has been lacking.
The head coach is happy with the threat his squad offers in the wide areas but in central positions, particularly around the edge of the box, he has been looking for more.
Embleton’s willingness to take risks gives him a chance of landing minutes when breaking down deep-lying defences has long been an issue.
It felt significant, then, when days later he played a key role from exactly that position in the opening goal at AFC Wimbledon.
The 21-year-old was the player withdrawn when the Black Cats were struggling early in the second half, but that was no reflection on his contribution and Johnson was at pains to stress that post-match.
The head coach simply wanted to switch the system and as the half developed, that presented a chance for Diamond.
The winger thrived as Sunderland broke at pace in the final ten minutes.
Johnson will rotate both personnels and systems, but has already found natural roles for both these talented players in his preferred systems.
The 4-2-2-2 looks ready made for Embleton, a player with much to improve in the first two thirds of the pitch, but with a technical ability in the final third that is superior to most players at the level.
Only in John son’ s first game did neither youngster start, and that seems a fair reflection of his growing confidence in their ability to make a meaningfulimpact in the promotion bid.
Sunderland, and Johnson, paid short shrift to suggestions that Embleton could be on the move this month.
Such was the quality of Diamond’s contributions in the early weeks of Johnson’s tenure, that question has not even been asked.
The hard work starts now for both, facing the challenge of maintaining a consistency both in training and in games.
That is up to them, and the hope will be that there is a regime and a coaching staff in place who will give them the proper opportunity they need to thrive.