:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2573481/155011365.0.jpg)
Martin O'Neill has made changes from the midweek Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough for today's game against Aston Villa.
The headline news is that James McClean drops to the bench again while Danny Rose also has to settle for a place on the bench as Jack Colback continues at left back. Craig Gardner reverts to a midfield position as Phil Bardsley makes his first Premier League start of the season.
Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Simon Mignolet; Phil Bardsley, Carlos Cuellar, John O'Shea, Jack Colback; Seb Larsson, Lee Cattermole, Craig Gardner, Adam Johnson; Stephane Sessegnon; Steven Fletcher.
Substitutes: Keiren Westwood, Louis Saha, Fraizer Campbell, David Vaughan, Matt Kilgallon, Danny Rose, James McClean.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has opted it seems to have left Darren Bent at home - presumably there's a sale on at some shoe shop or he's got a really good game going on Call Of Duty - but the good news for him is that Ciaran Clark has passed a late fitness test and starts for the Villains.
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Brad Guzan; Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Ashley Westwood, Joe Bennett; Ciaran Clark, Barry Bannan, Stephen Ireland; Andreas Weimann, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke
Substitutes: Shay Given, Marc Albrighton, Brett Holman, Fabian Delph, Enda Stevens, Eric Lichaj, Jordan Bowery
Follow us in our live thread for full match reports, reaction and updates HERE from the Stadium Of Light this afternoon!