Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray made two changes to the side that started last weekend's defeat at home to Swansea City, as Middlesbrough arrived at the Stadium of Light. With Luke O'Nien beginning a three-game suspension following his red card against the Swans, Danny Batth returned to the starting line-up in central defence to replace him.
Batth had made his comeback from a calf problem against Swansea when he came off the bench as Mowbray was forced into a reshuffle following the red card, but this is his first start since since Sunderland's draw at Hull City the week before Christmas. The second change saw Aji Alese come into the side at left-back, replacing Lynden Gooch who dropped out through injury.
Alese has been out of action with an ankle issue since that game at Hull, but he was passed fit to return. Youngster Ellis Taylor was included on the bench after returning to Wearside from his loan spell at Hartlepool United earlier this month.
