Chris Maguire’s season at Sunderland started well, with him a driving force behind their establishment as a top League One side.

He put his Bury disappointment behind him to get amongst the goals and play a key part in Josh Maja’s development. He sat behind the young striker and certainly helped support him as he excelled.

He picked up an injury in late February, something that coincided with Sunderland’s wobbles. They were drawing too many games and by the time Maguire returned, they were losing a few as well.

It appears the 30-year-old might have served his purpose, with Will Grigg coming in and chances becoming limited.

This weekend he’s firmly put paid to any notion of him being finished at Sunderland. On the final day, as his teammates struggled at Southend, he bagged their only goal to give them a boost going into the play-off fixtures.

This weekend, as expensive recruits failed to deliver, the former Oxford United man was on target to give the Black Cats a lead to defend in the second leg.

Chris Maguire might not be a big name, nor is he likely to command a big fee in the future, but if his goal sends Sunderland to Wembley then his contribution will certainly have been worth as much as any transfer fee, they spent on anyone else.

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That’s bound to give him a big lift. He’s a League One player, but he’s been effective for Jack Ross and coming back in from injury as he has, he’s bound to be on a high.

Sunderland need that, they need confidence as they’ve looked low on it of late. Chris Maguire will be full of it and that might make him crucial to them over the next 90 minutes, or maybe 180.

He’s bound to be delighted to have scored the goal and he’ll be looking to use that now to keep the momentum going and earn his side the Championship return they covet so passionately.