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.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray confirms Sunderland searching for permanent additions this month
Boro boss Michael Carrick made one change to the side that started last weekend's home win against Millwall. Darragh Lenihan came into the side in place of ex-Sunderland man Paddy McNair, who dropped to the bench.
Another former Black Cat, Duncan Watmore, was also amongst the subs. You can follow the game as it happens in our live blog here, with all the post-match reaction and analysis on the full-time whistle.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese, Evans, Neil, Roberts, Amad, Clarke, Stewart
Subs: Bass, Wright, Ba, Dajaku, Bennette, Michut, Taylor
Middlesbrough: Steffen, Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles, Howson, Hackney, Forss, Akpom, McGree, Crooks
Subs: Roberts, Jones, Archer, Hoppe, McNair, Watmore, Bola
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