Club News

Sunderland v Albion - team news

Mel makes four changes to starting XI

STEVEN Reid and Gareth McAuley return in defence as Pepe Mel makes four changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Arsenal on Sunday.

Claudio Yacob and Victor Anichebe also earn recalls to the Baggies starting XI.

The men to make way are benched trio Craig Dawson, Jonas Olsson and Youssouf Mulumbu, while Morgan Amalfitano misses out altogether, as Albion play the second of three games in a week.

Gus Poyet names an unchanged Black Cats side to the one that beat Manchester United at Old Trafford at the weekend.

SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Brown, Larsson, Wickham, Johnson, Colback, O’Shea (c), Vergini, Alonso, Borini, Cattermole. Subs: Ustari (gk), Bardsley, Altidore, Ba, Giaccherini, Bridcutt, Scocco.

ALBION: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Lugano, Brunt (c), Berahino, Yacob, Morrison, Dorrans, Sessegnon, Anichebe. Subs: Myhill (gk), Dawson, Sinclair, Vydra, Mulumbu, Olsson, O’Neil.

REFEREE: L Mason (Lancashire).