Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s startling metamorphosis from forgotten man to a striker on the verge of an England recall continued as his seventh goal in six games further reinforced Daniel Farke’s job security at Leeds.

A month ago Farke was rumoured to be under severe pressure at Elland Road but a change of formation and, most importantly, Calvert-Lewin’s renaissance have gone a long way towards assuaging relegation fears.

Leeds had to settle for a point here but there were moments when they threatened to end Sunderland’s unbeaten league record at the Stadium of Light this season.

Along the way, an always compelling game provided an antidote to suggestions that the gap between the top tier and the Championship is becoming almost insurmountable for promoted teams. On this exhilarating evidence this pair are not only more than good enough to stay up but the Premier League would be a poorer place without them.

“We showed great mentality to come back from a losing position,” said Farke, who saw Leeds fall behind to Simon Adingra’s 28th-minute opener before recovering to extend their undefeated league run to five games. “Sunderland are difficult to open up so it’s a good point on the road but I had a gut feeling we could win and, if we’d been a bit more clinical, we would have done.

“It’s another step forward but we could have made it a huge step forward. That’s why I’m not dancing on the table tonight.”

Régis Le Bris seemed content enough with a point which means his side remain seventh in the table. “It was very tough,” said the Sunderland manager. “Leeds are in great form and they showed great quality.”

The home side started well and when Nordi Mukiele’s long throw worked its way to Granit Xhaka, the Sunderland captain’s pass found Adingra on the left. The unpromising angle was awkward but the former Brighton winger opted to shoot and such ambition paid off as his strike swerved into the gap just between the diving Lucas Perri and the far post.

It was Adingra’s first goal in a Sunderland shirt and perhaps helped erase some of the winger’s disappointment at being omitted from the Côte d’Ivoire squad currently competing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Le Bris has lost six Sunderland players to Afcon but the absence of regular starters such as Reinildo, Noah Sadiki and Chemsdine Talbi offered Dennis Cirkin, Chris Rigg and Adingra rare opportunities they seemed determined to make the most of.

Ditto Trai Hume. The Northern Ireland defender often starts on the bench but the achilles injury that dictates the influential Dan Ballard will be absent for around five weeks meant Hume was back in his favourite berth. Tellingly it was his goalline clearance that prevented Leeds equalising as half-time beckoned. When Calvert-Lewin volleyed a cross into the danger area, Brenden Aaronson’s shot looked to have beaten Robin Roefs but, heroically, Hume intercepted to divert the danger.

An injury to Joe Rodon that left him limping and playing Adingra onside as Sunderland scored, eventually forced Farke to withdraw his key central defender, introduce Ao Tanaka and switch to 4-4-2.

This abandonment of the 3-5-2 system that has so revived Leeds in recent weeks was perhaps informed by the need for more control of a midfield dominated by Xhaka and, generally, it worked a treat.

Suddenly Sunderland’s high press was largely stymied, their attacking options restricted and they had reason to rue missing two late first-half chances. First a rearguard-confounding through ball lifted expertly over the top by Enzo Le Fée put Brian Brobbey clean through but, although the former Ajax striker knocked the ball beyond Lucas Perri, his connection was poor and Jaka Bijol was able to clear. Almost immediately Farke’s team were reprieved once more when Adingra crossed from the left and Brobbey’s header rebounded off the crossbar.

The scene was set for Calvert-Lewin to begin the second half by demonstrating precisely how to finish. The Leeds equaliser was swept into the net by a striker starting to compile quite some case for inclusion in England’s World Cup squad at the end of a gloriously fluent passing move that started with Perri, involved all 11 Leeds players and concluded with a low right- wing cross from the impressive Aaronson.

Like his manager the United States attacking midfielder is delighting in confounding the Elland Road doubters but it helps that Calvert-Lewin is around to polish off his crosses.

“I’m not surprised by Dominic’s run of goals,” said Farke. “He’s one of the best strikers in this league.”