The red card received by Middlesbrough's flying winger Adama Traore in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Sunderland has been overturned, meaning he is available for their next four matches. 

Former Barcelona man Traore was dismissed in the first half of the dramatic clash at the Stadium of Light for violent conduct off the ball but an FA Spokesperson revealed that the suspension had been overturned on appeal.

The winger was staring down the barrel of an extended four-game suspension because the indiscretion was his second red card of the season which would have been a hammer blow for Tony Pulis.

Pulis has inspired Traore to the best football he has played in a Boro shirt but would have been left with just Stewart Downing and Patrick Bamford as viable wide options - loanees Jack Harrison and Lewis Baker have struggled for form - for the next four games.

The Verdict

I didn't expect the appeal to be successful and I thought Boro were just opening themselves up to be hit with a longer ban for Traore by doing so.

It has come off for them and he is now able to try and propel them into the play-off spots.

That starts with Friday night's televised match against Leeds, who are also still in the hunt for the top six.

Boro fans - how good is this news? Let us know in the comments below...