All Barclays Premier League clubs must abide by the new '25-man squad' rule in 2010-11.

Clubs must name squads containing at least eight home grown players and no more than 25 players in total.

A home grown player is defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

In keeping with UEFA guidelines, an Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences. For the 2010-11 campaign Under 21 players will have been born on or after 1st January 1989.

Any players under 21 can be added to the squad, regardless of nationality.

The 25-man squads must be submitted to the Premier League by 5pm on the day following the close of each transfer window. For the 2010-11 season the first window will close at 6pm on 31st August and final squads must be registered by 5pm on 1st September. Before then clubs will not be required to name their squads and may select their teams from any registered players.

An updated squad list can be submitted at the end of January following the closure of the winter transfer window.

While the transfer windows are open, clubs may change their squads as many times as they want. However they will only be able to make alterations outside the windows if there are exceptional circumstances and the changes are approved by the Premier League board.

For example, if a club has two out of three goalkeepers injured they may be permitted to bring in a replacement under the guidelines drawn up by a specially formed working party.

Players in the 25-man squads who go out on loan to Football League clubs may not be replaced. However they may reclaim their place on their return.

Clubs do not have to name a full squad of 25 if they do not have that many contracted players and in this instance they may add free agents outside the transfer window. However if they have 25 eligible contracted players, they must be named.

Similarly, clubs do not have to name eight home grown players if they do not have that many but that would mean operating with a reduced squad.

Clubs will register their players via an online form which automatically flags up if they have named too many players who do not qualify as 'home grown'.

Sunderland's current first-team squad fits comfortably within the new guidelines. The breakdown is as follows:

Home-grown players (11): Phil Bardsley, Anton Ferdinand, Trevor Carson, Matt Kilgallon, Titus Bramble, George McCartney, Michael Turner, Andy Reid, Kieran Richardson, Lee Cattermole, Darren Bent, Fraizer Campbell (eight required).

Players under 21 (6): Michael Liddle, Jordan Henderson, Martyn Waghorn, David Meyler, Jack Colback, Ryan Noble.

Non home-grown players (10): Marton Fulop, Simon Mignolet, Paulo Da Silva, Ahmed Al-Muhammadi, Boudewijn Zenden, Cristian Riveros, Steed Malbranque, Kenwyne Jones, Marcos Angeleri, Craig Gordon.