Meyler won’t be rushed back

SUNDERLAND midfielder David Meyler may have played in his first match since May on Tuesday night, but the Irish starlet won’t make his first-team return until Christmas at the earliest.

The 21-year-old midfielder made a 30-minute appearance in the Sunderland reserves’ 2-1 defeat to their Liverpool counterparts as he took his first steps back from a six-month absence with knee ligament damage injury he sustained against Manchester United on the final day of last season.

It was initially feared Meyler would be out of action for as long as 12 months, and while he has progressed far quicker than expected, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has vowed to adopt a cautious approach with him.