DICK ADVOCAAT has named the strongest starting XI available to him as Sunderland look to claim their first win of the season in tonight's Capital One Cup second-round tie with Exeter City.
Adam Matthews comes in at right-back to replace Billy Jones, who picked up a knock in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Swansea.
Jeremain Lens also suffered a minor knee injury at the weekend, and the Dutchman has not been risked, with Seb Larsson coming back into the midfield.
With Larsson joining Lee Cattermole, Jack Rodwell and Yann M'Vila in the central area, there is a chance that Advocaat could switch to a 4-4-2 formation for tonight's game.
The Sunderland head coach has named a youthful bench, with Max Stryjek, Duncan Watmore, Lynden Gooch and Josh Robson all named amongst the replacements.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Pantilimon; Matthews, O'Shea, Coates, van Aanholt; Larsson, Cattermole, Rodwell, M'Vila; Defoe, Graham.
Subs: Stryjek (gk), Brown, J Robson, Gooch, Giaccherini, Watmore, Fletcher.
Exeter (4-5-1): Olejnik; McAllister, Butterfield, Brown, Tillson; Noble, Holmes, Davies, Oyeleke, McCready; Wheeler.
Subs: Hamon (gk), Woodman, Oakley, Nicholls, Hoskins, Morrison, Grant.
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