STEVEN FLETCHER and Jack Colback return to Sunderland's starting line up for this evening's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United.

Gus Poyet has made two changes to the side that drew with Southampton last weekend as he looks to defend the 2-1 lead secured in this month's first leg at the Stadium of Light.

Fletcher replaces Jozy Altidore in attack, and will start as a lone striker as the Black Cats line up in Poyet's preferred 4-1-4-1 formation.

Colback is preferred to Seb Larsson at the heart of midfield, and will play alongside Ki Sung-Yueng, with Lee Cattermole filling the defensive midfield role despite speculation linking him with a possible move to Stoke.

Sunderland's two new signings - Oscar Ustari and Santiago Vergini - are both named on the substitutes' bench after their international clearance came through in time.

Man United will be without Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie as they attempt to overhaul their first-leg deficit as neither player has regained their fitness in time.

Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez start in attack for the hosts, with Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj charged with the task of creating opportunities from the wide positions.

With Nemanja Vidic suspended, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans will play alongside each other at the heart of the back four.

Man United (4-4-2): De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Buttner; Januzaj, Carrick, Fletcher, Kagawa; Welbeck, Hernandez.

Subs: Lindegaard (gk), Evra, Jones, Cleverley, Giggs, Young, Valencia.

Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Mannone; Bardsley, Brown, O'Shea, Alonso; Cattermole; Johnson, Colback, Ki, Borini; Fletcher.

Subs: Ustari (gk), Vergini, Celustka, Gardner, Larsson, Giaccherini, Altidore.