Patrick Roberts returned to Sunderland's starting XI at Coventry City as boss Tony Mowbray made three changes against one of his former club. The Black Cats boss - who spent 18 months in charge at Coventry starting in early 2015 - reverted to his strongest available side at the Coventry Building Society Arena, as he undid the three changes he had made for the midweek defeat at Rotherham United and reverted to the same side that began last weekend's draw against Bristol City at the Stadium of Light.
Roberts made a big impact from the bench at Rotherham, and he came back into the starting line-up against the Sky Blues, taking the place of Alex Pritchard. The other changes came in the full-back roles where Trai Hume returned in place of Luke O'Nien at right-back, and Aji Alese reclaimed his place from Dennis Cirkin at left-back.
Pritchard, and O'Nien were named on the bench but Cirkin missed out on the matchday squad, presumably through injury, with Isaac Lihadji amongst the subs instead. Coventry boss Mark Robins named the same side that began last weekend's 2-0 win at Rotherham.
READ MORE: Coventry City vs Sunderland LIVE: All the build-up from the Coventry Building Society Arena
His starting XI included two former Sunderland players in the shape of goalkeeper Ben Wilson, who came through the academy on Wearside, and defender Callum Doyle who is on loan at Coventry from Manchester City this season having spent last season on loan with the Black Cats.
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Today's teams
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese, Michut, Neil, Roberts, Amad, Clarke, Gelhardt
Subs: Bass, O'Nien, Pritchard, Lihadji, Ekwah, Bennette, Ba
Coventry City: Wilson, McNally, McFadzean, Doyle, Hamer, Eccles, Norton-Cuffy, Allen, Palmer, Bidwell, Gyokeres
Subs: Moore, Rose, Wilson-Esbrand, Maguire, Walker, Dabo, Godden
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- Joe Gelhardt relishing the chance to be a regular starter again at Sunderland
- Sunderland's 1973 Road to Wembley relived: Thrilling draw at Manchester City earns last-16 replay
- Tony Mowbray wary of asking too much of Amad - but his talent makes him hard to leave out
