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James Hunter

Amad Diallo handed his first start as Sunderland take on Blackpool, but Dennis Cirkin misses out

Amad Diallo made his first start for Sunderland as the Wearsiders took on Blackpool at the Stadium of Light. On-loan Manchester United forward Amad came into the side in place of Dan Neil, who dropped to the bench.

That was the only change made by head coach Tony Mowbray to the side that began Saturday's goalless draw at home to Preston North End. But he did make another change on the bench, where summer signing Edouard Michut was included in the matchday squad for the first time.

The on-loan Paris St Germain midfelder was amongst the subs, with Jay Matete making way for him. Mowbray also included fellow new boys Jewison Bennette and Abdoullah Ba, both of whom have been involved from the bench in recent games, amongst his substitutes.

READ MORE: 'Frightening' gamesmanship that shortchanged Sunderland fans

But there was no place in the matchday squad for Dennis Cirkin, despite Mowbray saying on the eve of the game that the defender would be on the bench having recovered from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since mid-August. Elliot Embleton, who spent a loan spell with Blackpool and helped the Tangerines win promotion from League One in 2021, was in the starting XI.

Blackpool boss Michael Appleton made three changes, in his case to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Norwich City on Saturday. In came Callum Connolly, Gary Madine, and Shayne Lavery, in place of Theo Corbeanu, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, and Ian Poveda.

Former Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt was on the Blackpool bench. You can follow the match as it happens in our live blog here, with all the post-match reaction and analysis to come following the final whistle.

Tonight's teams

Sunderland: Patterson, Gooch, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Roberts, Embleton, Evans, Clarke, Amad, Pritchard

Subs: Bass, Dajaku, Ba, Bennette, Neil, Michut, Wright

Blackpool: Maxwell, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Thompson, Wright, Dougall, Patino, Lavery, Madine, Yates

Subs: Grimshaw, Carney, Hamilton, Corbeanu, Poveda, Garbutt, Bridcutt

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