For Tony Mowbray, plans, as is so often the case in football, had to be changed at short notice.

At Hull City, the intention was for the returning Dan Ballard to play no more than half an hour, if indeed he featured at all. The sight of Danny Batth hobbling off injured after just 14 minutes soon changed those plans.

And Mowbray's intention in the second half at the MKM Stadium was to partner Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms. Instead, the Sunderland boss was forced into a last minute rethink as he watched Elliot Embleton harshly sent off as he was stretchered off after a collision with Ryan Woods.

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The red card altered Mowbray's thinking and prevented the Sunderland boss from getting an exciting glimpse at what his frontline could look like in the second half of the season, providing, of course, Stewart doesn't move on in January.

"The plan would have been as the game went on to play two strikers again them and stretch them out and cause them problems but we never had the opportunity to do that," said Mowbray afterwards.

Only once - in his first game in charge against Rotherham - has Mowbray been able to field both Stewart and Simms. For the head coach, the availability of his two frontmen and their support stars is a mouthwatering prospect.

"It's exciting to think about two strikers in this team, if you get the balance right behind them," said Mowbray.

"If you play Amad, Roberts, Clarke, those types of players, we could be a potent team as long as we have the experience, strength, size and speed to deal with the opposition."

With 10 men or 11, any Championship team would be significantly strengthened by Stewart, as the striker proved just 14 minutes into his long-awaited return, latching on to a delightful through-ball from fellow substitute Patrick Roberts and coolly slotting underneath Hull City keeper Matt Ingram to give the Black Cats the lead.

It was, as Mowbray put it, a "class finish" and a glimpse at why the 26-year-old finds himself in demand ahead of the coming window. That's six goals for the season now despite making just eight appearances. His ninth will likely come on Boxing Day, when Mowbray hinted Stewart could start.

"Ross came on and did what I've seen in training and in that Rotherham game," said the head coach.

"He's a very calm finisher. The goalie jumped because he thought he was going to lob it over him but he just prodded it into the ground, a class finish.

"The right thing wouldn't have been to be tempted into starting Ross (at Hull) because only two weeks ago I told you he was fit [to play against West Brom] and was going to be on the bench and then he felt a little niggle.

"The right thing is to ease him back into the team. The best thing is to ease him back, but there is a fair chance though that he could start on Boxing Day."

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Hull City had their own substitute to thank as Ozan Tufan rescued a point for the hosts against the 10-men, a draw a fair result and one that pleased Mowbray.

The first half was a non-event, chances hard to come by, the only talking point of note the injury to Batth, a calf problem that will be monitored this week.

But plenty of action was squeezed into a chaotic second half.

Oscar Estupinan dragged a penalty wide after the otherwise brilliant Ballard fouled Regan Slater in the box. Embleton's red card was extremely harsh but most concerning for Sunderland was the sight of the 23-year-old being stretchered off, Mowbray admitting afterwards he feared a "bad injury".

Sunderland responded superbly, Stewart striking, and although they couldn't hold on for all three points, the Black Cats dug deep to ensure they didn't leave empty-handed.

After the West Brom disappointment, this draw gives Sunderland something to build on as they prepare for Blackburn on Boxing Day. Blackburn will no doubt be preparing for a fit and firing Ross Stewart.