Mensah back for Black Cats

The Ghanaian, who manager Steve Bruce hopes to keep beyond this season, has not played since the draw at Aston Villa on March 24 with his long-standing injury problems.

But he has returned to the heart of the defence alongside Michael Turner, while there is no place in the team for Lorik Cana or Lee Cattermole.

Cana has been ruled out with a groin problem and Cattermole is missing with a calf niggle.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Hutton, Turner, Mensah, Richardson; Campbell, Meyler, Henderson, Malbranque; Bent, Jones. Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Zenden, Benjani.

BURNLEY (4-5-1): Jensen; Mears, Cort, Duff, Fox; Eagles, Alexander, Cork, Elliott, Patterson; Fletcher. Subs: Thompson, Bikey, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Blake, Weaver.