DONALD LOVE returns to Sunderland's starting line-up for this evening's Championship home game with Aston Villa.

Love replaces the injured Adam Matthews in the only change to the side that started last weekend's 1-1 draw with Millwall.

That means Ashley Fletcher continues as a lone striker, with Aiden McGeady and Callum McManaman playing behind him.

Josh Maja and Joel Asoro remain on the substitutes' bench, along with Kazenga LuaLua, who is available again after recovering from injury.

Former Sunderland striker Lewis Grabban starts up front for Aston Villa, having scored 12 goals for the Black Cats in the first half of the season.

SUNDERLAND (3-4-2-1): Steele; Browning, O'Shea, Kone; Love, Cattermole, Ejaria, Oviedo; McGeady, McManaman; Fletcher.

Subs: Camp (gk), Jones, Williams, Honeyman, LuaLua, Maja, Asoro.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Adomah; Hogan, Grabban.

Subs: Bunn (gk), Davis, Bjarnason, Lansbury, Grealish, Jedinak, Onomah.