Sunderland have suffered a major blow as Ross Stewart has had to pull out of tonight's clash against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium with a thigh problem.
The Scotsman was initially named in the starting line-up by Tony Mowbray but will now be replaced by Patrick Roberts after sustaining an injury in the warm-up.
Leon Dajaku comes onto the substitutes bench for the Black Cats after featuring just once in the Championship this season.
Stewart scored twice in last Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Rotherham United at the Stadium of Light to extend his season tally to five goals in eight league appearances.
READ MORE: Middlesbrough vs Sunderland LIVE
Roberts is handed his first start after starting on the bench in each of Sunderland's opening seven league matches.
The 25-year-old, who joined Sunderland from Manchester City in January, has featured four times for the Black Cats in the 2022/23 campaign.
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland to step up contract talks with Ross Stewart now transfer window has shut
- Tony Mowbray on Sunderland's lack of deadline day additions, and why he is unconcerned
- Sunderland's squad remains thin after deadline day passes with no further additions
- Sunderland allow Carl Winchester to make deadline day loan move to Shrewsbury Town
- Sunderland's Jack Clarke issues defiant message following stellar Rotherham United showing
- Tony Mowbray wants Sunderland players to 'flourish' under his leadership after Rotherham win
