Jan Kirchhoff will start against Rochdale in the Checkatrade trophy this evening.
The German suffered a hamstring injury in pre-season and is yet to feature competitively under David Moyes, but the midfielder will take a big stride towards peak fitness at the Crown Oil Arena.
Deadline-day signing Jason Denayer will also start for the Black Cats alongside a host of under-23 regulars including Max Stryjek, Tom Robson, Ethan Robson and George Honeyman.
Youngsters Elliot Embleton and Josh Maja have also been named in the starting XI.
Sunderland: Stryjek, J Robson, T Robson, Ledger, Denayer, E Robson, Kirchhoff, Embleton, Honeyman, Greenwood, Maja.
Substitutes: Pain (GK), Beadling, Brady, Casey, Wright, Nelson, Molyneux.