Joe Hart

18/19 Games/Clean sheets: 23/5

The former England number one has had a rocky few years since being dropped on the opening day of the 16/17 season by Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola but, although he is second choice to Nick Pope, he’s gradually found his feet again at Turf Moor and will be looking to prove to Sean Dyche this evening that he is still capable of being a top class number one.

It may feel like he has been in the wilderness for a while, but you don’t end up with seventy five England caps unless you’re a pretty handy ‘keeper. That Burnley are able to call on this level of experience and quality shows you just how difficult tonight’s task is.

Our forward line will have to be at their best if they are to beat Hart and pull off a shock result this evening.

Phil Bardsley

18/19 Games/Goals: 23/0

Do we really need to introduce you to Bardo? Of course not!

He may not be the young whippersnapper that rocked up at the Stadium of Light a decade ago, but the truth is that whilst we have fallen down the leagues since his departure the full back has remained in the top flight ever since, playing over half of Burnley’s Premier League games last term whilst also appearing in the Europa League.

Having only managed a place among the substitutes so far this season, Bardsley will no doubt be given an opportunity to get some minutes in his legs and his inclusion could mean we see an intriguing battle should Aiden McGeady be given an opportunity to show his quality against the Premier League side this evening.

Jeff Hendrick

18/19 Games/Goals: 39/3

Normally a regular in the Burnley engine room, Hendrick has been forced to watch from the sidelines in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Despite being virtually ever-present at Turf Moor since his £13m transfer from Derby County, he has recently lost his place in the centre of midfield to Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood and will be desperate to grab his opportunity to impress in the League Cup tonight.

Hendrick is exactly the kind of player Sunderland are missing. Tall, powerful, strong and able to break into the box to nab the occasional goal. Unless the Irishman is watched carefully, he could create havoc for our defence in this evening’s cup tie.