The pacey right-sided midfielder was benched without playing for the first time with the Black Cats in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on November 9th.

Elmo, who joined the Stadium of Light in the summer on a season-long loan from ENPPI, was introduced late in the surprise 3-0 win over Chelsea the next week.

In Monday's game against Everton, the 23-year-old replaced Jordan Henderson on 85 minutes.

There is no apparent reason why Elmohamady has been confined to the bench. He was a regular starter earlier this term.

Tim Cahill put Everton ahead in the sixth minutes before Sunderland's Danny Welbeck hit a brace on 23 and 70 minutes.

Mikel Arteta hit the equalizer for Everton on 83 minutes.

Sunderland are now in seventh place with 20 points while Everton are 14th on 16.