SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet has made three changes to his starting line-up for this afternoon's Premier League game with Everton.

Wes Brown returns to the starting line-up, with Poyet forced to make a defensive change after Patrick van Aanholt dislocated his shoulder in Monday's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

With van Aanholt unavailable, Brown returns to partner John O'Shea with recent signing Anthony Reveillere expected to start to at left-back and Santiago Vergini poised to start on the opposite flank.

Liam Bridcutt returns to Sunderland's starting line-up in place of Lee Cattermole, who will serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Selhurst Park.

Poyet's final change sees Adam Johnson preferred to Will Buckley in midfield, with the former England international expected to start on the right flank.

A lack of defensive cover means academy left-back Tom Robson, who started his career in the youth set-up at Darlington, is named on the substitutes' bench.

Everton are at full strength, with Ross Barkley returning to the starting line-up and both Samuel Eto'o and Romelu Lukaku named in attacking roles.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Pantilimon; Vergini, Brown, O'Shea, Reveillere; Bridcutt; Johnson, Larsson, Gomez, Wickham; Fletcher.

Subs: Mannone (gk), Robson, Rodwell, Buckley, Mavrias, Graham, Altidore.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; McGeady, Eto'o, Barkley; Lukaku.

Subs: Robles (gk), Hibbert, Gibson, Naismith, Besic, Atsu, Osman.