SUNDERLAND captain Lee Cattermole is the surprise omission from Martin O'Neill's starting line-up for this afternoon's FA Cup fourth round tie with Middlesbrough.

The former Boro midfielder, born on Teesside, has been forced to sit out with a hamstring problem that resurfaced during training on Saturday.

It means Cattermole, 23, misses out on taking on the club he supported as a boy but his absence has opened the door for Craig Gardner to slot in.

Gardner, who will play alongside David Vaughan in central midfield, is one of two changes for the Black Cats, with Connor Wickham also replacing the injured Nicklas Bendtner.

Middlesbrough have made three changes to the team that lost to Coventry in the Championship eight days ago.

As well as leaving out Justin Hoyte, in favour of bringing back Tony McMahon, manager Tony Mowbray has been forced to bring in two other fresh faces as Julio Arca and Kevin Thomson serves bans.

Lukas Jutkiewicz, a £1.5m buy from Coventry, starts up front for the first time, which could see Marvin Emnes line up in a more withdrawn midfield role.

There is also a return to action for Seb Hines, who will play centre-back, which could see Rhys Williams play in midfield.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Brown, Richardson; Larsson, Gardner, Vaughan, McClean; Sessegnon, Wickham. Subs: Westwood (gk), Elmohamady, Meyler, Ji, Campbell, Colback, Turner.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-3-3): Coyne; McMahon, Hines, Bates, Hoyte; Emnes, Williams, Robson; Haroun, Jutkiewicz, McDonald. Subs: Ripley (gk), Bennett, Williams, Martin, Park, Main, Smallwood.