AJI ALESE will make his first league start as Sunderland take on Reading in the Championship this evening.

Alese replaces Dennis Cirkin, who is unavailable after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Tees-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland.

The defensive switch is the only alteration to the side that kicked off at the Riverside Stadium, with Ross Stewart once again unavailable after suffering a thigh injury during the warm-up on Teesside.

Patrick Roberts continues in the starting side, and will link up with Alex Pritchard in support of Ellis Simms.

Costa Rica international Jewison Bennette is named in a matchday squad for the first time since his summer move to Wearside, and is on the substitutes' bench.


READING (3-5-2): Lumley; Holmes, Hutchinson, McIntyre; Yiadom, Ince, Hendrick, Fornah, Hoilett; Loum, Joao.

Subs: Bouzanis, Meite, Rahman, Guinness-Walker, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Craig.

SUNDERLAND (3-4-2-1): Patterson; O'Nien, Batth, Alese; Gooch, Neil, Evans, Clarke; Pritchard, Roberts; Simms.

Subs: Bass, Dajaku, Diallo, Matete, Hume, Embleton, Bennette.