Josh Maja will make his highly-anticipated return to action tonight as Sunderland under-23s take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium (KO 7pm).
The youngster dazzled in pre-season with assured performances and well-taken goals forcing him into the first-team reckoning, but his involvement was cut short due to knee injury.
After returning to training, Maja will start alongside Joel Asoro with Paddy McNair also named in Elliott Dickman’s starting XI.
The Northern Ireland international started – and scored – in last week’s 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin at the Stadium of Light in his first appearance of the season.
Sunderland U23s: Talbot, Gamble, Hume, Beadling, Taylor, Embleton, McNair, Diamond, Greenwood, Asoro, Maja.
Subs: Storey, Woud, Molyneux, Nelson, Bale.
