ETHAN Robson struck a stunning free-kick late at the King Power Stadium to give Sunderland’s Under-23s a 3-2 victory at Leicester.

Bartosz Kapustka put the Foxes ahead and, after George Honeyman had levelled, Admiral Muskwe added a second for the home side.

But Sunderland hit back with a second equaliser through Honeyman on the hour before Noble’s beauty in the dying stages.

SUNDERLAND: Stryjek, Casey, J Robson (Taylor 55), Agnew, Ledger (Molyneux 61), Brady, Wright, E Robson, Lawson (Maja 81), Honeyman, Greenwood. Subs (not used): Talbot, Embleton, Taylor.

BERNARDO ESPINOSA pulled on a Middlesbrough shirt for the first time since his summer arrival from Sporting Gijon.

The South American centre-back played 73 minutes of the Under-23s’ goalless draw with Blackburn, who fielded Wes Brown for an hour, at Bolton after recovering from his knee surgery he had a few months ago.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Fryer; Halliday, Espinosa (Fry 73), Jackson (Capt.), McGinley (Tavernier 27), Morris, Morelli, Tinkler, Jakupovic, Cooke. Mondal (McAloon 68). Subs: Pears (gk); Fewster