The 26-year-old Irishman had a spell at Manchester United earlier in his career, but had to wait until Saturday to claim his first top-flight goal.

Miller's 89th-minute strike was enough to secure a hard-fought point for his side at the home of derby rivals Middlesbrough just when the Teessiders thought they had wrapped up all three.

He said: "It's been a long wait. I was hoping my first goal would have come sooner, but that's the way these things work out.

"I have caught a few sweet in my time, and luckily I saved another nice one for Saturday. That was probably up there with the best of them."

Miller's strike was just his third for the club after he scored at Leeds within weeks of his arrival from Celtic at the beginning of last season, and then claimed a last-gasp winner at Derby in February.

It came in the nick of time for Roy Keane's men, who have made something of a habit of scoring late since their return to the Premier League.

Michael Chopra's opening day winner against Tottenham came deep into injury time, and the former Newcastle man struck at the death once again four days later to snatch a 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

Miller told the Sunderland Echo: "Once again, we scored a late goal and dug out a point from a difficult situation.

"It just goes to show the character in the team. This bunch of lads always play for the 90 minutes.

"We didn't play well, but luckily enough, we came away with a draw and pulled one out for the team and the fans, and that's pleasing."

Miller has appeared in all eight of Sunderland's games so far this season, but has started just two, although that is a situation which could change this weekend.

Dickson Etuhu, a £1.5million summer signing from Norwich, collected his fifth booking of the campaign at the Riverside Stadium and will sit out Saturday's visit of Blackburn to the Stadium of Light.

Former Celtic midfielder Miller will hope that opens the door for him to stake his own claim, and Etuhu knows he may have a fight on his hands to force his way back into the side.

He said: "I wasn't surprised that Liam got such a great goal for us. He had been putting them away all week in training and his confidence was high.

"There's competition for all of us in the squad and Liam's goal showed that.

"He came off the bench and did his job, giving the manager something to think about.

"I think I have been a bit unlucky with two or three of the bookings, and I'm gutted to pick up a suspension so early in the season.

"It's a fast and furious league and you are going to get bookings.

"Of course, I'm gutted to miss the Blackburn game now, but we have got players who can come in and do a job.

"Liam has scored a great goal and will hope he gets the nod, but he's not the only one.

"Whoever comes in, I wish him all the best and hope he does well, but I will be back fighting for a place again afterwards."