SANTIAGO VERGINI has passed a late fitness test for Sunderland to start against Hull City at the Stadium of Light.

Vergini had to be assessed before being given the go-ahead to warm-up to face the Tigers, although Black Cats boss Gus Poyet has had to make a couple of changes to the team which beat Newcastle.

Billy Jones, who Poyet would have preferred to give a week more recovery time from ann ankle problem, looks set to replace Anthony Reveillere at left-back for his first start since early October. Wes Brown, given the number of games in such a short space of time, drops to the bench so Seabstien Coates starts.

On the left of the attack there is a place for Ricky Alvarez in the absence of the suspended Connor Wickham. 

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Pantilimon: Vergini, Coates, O’Shea, Jones; Cattermole, Johnson, Larsson, Gomez, Alvarez; Fletcher. Subs: (not used): Altidore, Mannone (gk), Bridcutt, Brown, Rodwell, Buckley, Giaccherini.

HULL CITY (5-3-2): McGregor; Elmohamady, Bruce, Davies, Chester, Rosenior; Quinn, Meyler, Brady; Ramirez; Aluko. Subs: Harper (gk), Figueroa, Hernandez, Jelavic, Sagbo, Ince, Maguire.