DAN BALLARD returns to Sunderland's starting line-up for this evening's Premier League game at Brentford.
Chris Rigg is also named in the Black Cats' starting XI after Regis Le Bris made two changes from the side that kicked off the weekend draw at Tottenham.
Ballard was a second-half substitute against Spurs, but the Northern Irishman is now back to full fitness and starts at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium.
He replaces Dennis Cirkin, with Trai Hume expected to line up at left-back. Nordi Mukiele will play on the right of the back four, with Ballard partnering Omar Alderete at centre-half.
Rigg gets the nod to start ahead of Eliezer Mayenda, who drops down to the substitutes' bench.
Lutsharel Geertruida is expected to move into midfield, having started at right-back against Spurs, with the Dutchman set to play alongside Granit Xhaka.
Brian Brobbey retains his starting spot in attack, having scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Mayenda on the bench. As expected, the injured Wilson Isidor does not make the squad.
Former Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson is on the bench for Brentford, who were 4-2 winners at Everton at the weekend.
BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Yarmoliuk, Janelt; Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Schade; Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, van den Berg, Hickey, Pinnock, Peart-Harris, Damsgaard, Donovan, Henderson, Nelson.
SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Geertruida, Xhaka; Rigg, Le Fee, Adingra; Brobbey.
Subs: Patterson, Neil, Cirkin, O'Nien, Mundle, Mayenda, Hjelde, H Jones, Tutierov.
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