PHIL PARKINSON has made four changes to his Sunderland starting line-up for this evening's home game with Tranmere Rovers.

Parkinson is taking charge of his first Black Cats game at the Stadium of Light, and has rung the changes in the wake of last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Wycombe.

Two of the alterations are enforced, with Aiden McGeady suspended and Charlie Wyke set to be sidelined for more than a month with an ankle problem.

However, Parkinson has also opted to leave Conor McLaughlin and Grant Leadbitter out of his side.

Luke O'Nien switches to right-back to replace McLaughlin, while George Dobson comes in for Leadbitter to partner Max Power at the base of midfield.

Chris Maguire and Lynden Gooch get the nod in midfield, with Will Grigg selected as Sunderland's starting centre-forward.


SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Burge; O'Nien, Willis, Lynch, Hume; Power, Dobson; Gooch, Maguire, Watmore; Grigg.

Subs: J McLaughlin (gk), C McLaughlin, Flanagan, Leadbitter, McGeouch, Kimpioka, McNulty.


TRANMERE (4-4-2): Davies; Caprice, Ray, Monthe, Ridehalgh; Morris, Danns, Perkins, Jennings; Mullin, Payne.

Subs: Pilling (gk), Hepburn-Murphy, Walker-Rice, Borthwick-Jackson, Wilson, Nelson, Maddox.