Republic of Ireland international James McClean has been included in the Sunderland starting lineup for this evening's Premier League encounter against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.

He has replaced the suspended Stephane Sessegnon, while Jack Colback has come into the side at the expense of Phil Bardsley.

For visiting Stoke, Cameron Jerome has been handed a rare start alongside Peter Crouch up front.

Sunderland: Mignolet; Colback, Rose, Cuellar, O'Shea; N'Diaye, Larsson, Gardner, Johnson, McClean; Graham

Stoke: Begovic; Shotton, Wilson, Huth, Shawcross; Whitehead, Adam, N'Zonzi, Walters; Crouch, Jerome