JACK CLARKE returns to Sunderland's starting line-up for this afternoon's home game against Bristol City.

Having come off the bench in Monday's thumping at the hands of Blackburn Rovers, the Black Cats' leading goalscorer in back in the starting side this afternoon.

It is the winger's first start since the defeat at Birmingham City in mid-February, with an ankle injury having kept him on the sidelines for more than a month.

Mike Dodds makes three changes in the wake of his side's Bank Holiday battering, with Leo Hjelde and Chris Rigg also named in the starting team.

Hjedle replaces Callum Styles at left-back, while Rigg is preferred to Patrick Roberts on the right of midfield.

Clarke will line up in his preferred position on the left-hand side, with Romaine Mundle dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Aji Alese is back in the squad and named amongst the replacements, along with Bradley Dack.


SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Hjelde; Neil, Ekwah; Rigg, Aouchiche, Clarke; Bellingham.

Subs: Bishop, Pembele, Hemir, Roberts, Burstow, Mundle, Styles, Alese, Dack.

BRISTOL CITY (4-3-3): O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Roberts, Pring; Knight, James, Sykes; Twine, Wells, Mehmeti.

Subs: Bajic, McCrorie, Williams, Cornick, King, Conway, Knight-Lebel, Mebude.