Di Canio lifts Bardsley ban after apology

Phil Bardsley’s Sunderland exile is over after he apologised for mocking the club’s opening day defeat by Fulham.

The 28-year-old full-back was suspended by the Black Cats over a comment posted on the social media site Instagram after the 1-0 defeat which read: “Great opening day. Hahahhahaha hahahhaha!!!”.