Arbenit Xhemajli was handed his League One debut as Sunderland boss Alex Neil made two changes to the side that drew against Burton Albion on Wearside in midweek.
Kosovo international defender Xhemajli replaced Callum Doyle in central defence, with Neil having this week warned that Doyle was at risk of burnout after starting almost every game for the Black Cats this season.,
It was only Xhemajli's third appearance for Sunderland since he joined in the summer of 2020, with both his previous outings coming in the EFL Trophy.
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And his most recent first-team appearance came at the beginning of December, in what was his senior comeback after more than a year out of action with a serious knee ligament injury.
The second change saw Elliot Embleton return to the starting line-up, with Jermain Defoe making way.
Defoe was included on the bench, but Doyle was left out of the squad entirely.
Trai Hume was back in the squad and was named amongst the subs, but there was no sign of centre-back Danny Batth.
Wigan boss Leam Richardson made one change to the side that started their win at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday.
Gwion Edwards replaced Gavin Massey.
Former Sunderland men Max Power and James McClean both started for the Latics.
You can follow the game as it happens in our live blog here, plus get all the post-match analysis and reaction.
This afternoon's teams
Sunderland: Patterson, Winchester, Wright, Xhemajli, Cirkin, Matete, Evans, Gooch, Pritchard, Embleton, Stewart
Subs: Hoffmann, Dajaku, Defoe, Neil, Clarke, Hume, Roberts
Wigan Athletic: Amos, Darikwa, Whatmough, Tilt, McClean, Power, Naylor, Lang, Keane, Edwards, Magennis
Subs: Jones, Watts, Massey, Shinnie, Bennett, Rea, Humphrys
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