Jenson Seelt has been ruled out for the remainder of the season as Mike Dodds makes three changes for today’s visit of Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship.
Defender Luke O’Nien is also unavailable as he completes his two-game suspension with Callum Styles, Adil Aouchiche and Luis Hemir all returning to the Black Cats’ starting XI.
Chris Rigg and Mason Burstow drop to the bench, while Bradley Dack has a place among the substitutes following a spell on the sidelines.
Corry Evans and Aji Alese have resumed first-team training but take no part in today’s clash as they build up their match fitness.
Long-term absentees Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts, Dennis Cirkin, Niall Huggins and Elliot Embleton all remain in the treatment room.
SAFC XI: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Hjelde, Styles, Neil ©, Jobe, Ba, Aouchiche, Mundle, Hemir.
Substitutes: Bishop, Pembele, Burstow, Ekwah, Rigg, Dack, Kelly, Jones, Bainbridge.