DAVID Meyler played the full 90 minutes as Sunderland reserves slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Everton yesterday afternoon.

Meyler stepped up his return to full fitness as part of an experimental reserves line-up that also featured trialist Aristote Guerin-Lokonga, who has previously been part of the Academy squad at Wolves.

The Black Cats came close to breaking the deadlock when Jordan Cook lobbed Marcus Hahnemann, only for an Everton defender to clear off the line, but the hosts claimed the lead with ten minutes left when Liam Marrs deflected a cross past goalkeeper Lewis King for an own goal.

Everton doubled their advantage shortly after when substitute Conor McAleny scored.

Sunderland reserves: King, Marrs, Bagnall, Laing, Egan, Knott (Deacon 73), Meyler, Armstrong, McClean, Trialist (Tounkara 60), Cook.