Josh Maja will lead the line against Nottingham Forest today with Chris Coleman handing a first start to the 19-year-old.
The youngster came off the bench and scored the winner on his league debut earlier this month, and he replaces James Vaughan in the starting XI.
Callum McManaman also starts and Ty Browning is fit to face Forest despite picking up a foot injury against Sheffield United on Boxing Day.
Bryan Oviedo drops to the bench as Donald Love comes into the line-up, with Elliot Embleton and Joel Asoro also amongst the substitutes.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Browning, O’Shea, Wilson, Love, Matthews, Gibson, Honeyman, McManaman, McGeady, Maja.
Substitutes: Steele, Asoro, Vaughan, Jones, Oviedo, Gooch, Embleton.