WES BROWN played for the opening 45 minutes as Sunderland’s development side claimed a 1-0 win over Everton in front of a watching Dick Advocaat.

Brown, whose last senior appearance came in March’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham, showed no ill effects from the knee injury that had initially looked like ending his season, and the veteran centre-half could yet be involved in the final stage of Sunderland’s survival battle.

Sunderland scored the only goal of the game shortly after the hour mark, with Duncan Watmore finding the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Watmore, who is also pushing for a first-team place, has now scored five goals in his last five second-string appearances.

Sunderland: Pickford, J Robson, T Robson, Agnew (Greenwood 9), Brown (Casey 46), Beadling, Gooch, Smith, Honeyman, Watmore (Blinco 90), Mandron.