Martin O'Neill welcomed back Carlos Cuellar from injury as he makes his return from a recent injury to take the place of Titus Bramble who dropped to the bench.
O'Neill also goes with an attacking lineup, and near enough our best barring Lee Cattermole who once again misses out through suspension. John O'Shea takes the captain's armband in his absence.
Adam Johnson, also recently injured, starts against his former team with a point to prove.
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Simon Mignolet; Craig Gardner, John O'Shea, Carlos Cuellar; Jack Colback, Seb Larsson; Adam Johnson, Stephane Sessegnon, James McClean; Steven Fletcher
Substitutes: Keiren Westwood, Fraizer Campbell, Titus Bramble, Matt Kilgallon, David Vaughan, David Meyler, Louis Saha
Roberto Mancini, who earlier in the week was moaning about his side not having enough rest between their Champions League exploits and today's game makes numerous changes to his side, including a recall for the front two of Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez as Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero drop to the bench.
It's being suggested that City will lineup in a 3-5-2 formation, as they have done a few times in preseason with Pablo Zabaleta shifting from fullback to the middle, although we fancy it more to be a flat 4-4-2.
The good news for Sunderland continues with Vincent Kompany missing out.
Manchester City (4-4-2): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Alexander Kolarov; James Milner, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Gareth Barry; Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli
Substitutes: Costel Pantilimon, Gael Clichy, Jack Rodwell, Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Kolo Toure
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