Deadline day signings Jermain Defoe and Jay Matete were included on the bench as managerless Sunderland took on basement side Doncaster Rovers at the Stadium of Light.
With Lee Johnson sacked on Sunday, interim bosses Mike Dodds and Michael Proctor made one change to the starting line-up that began the 6-0 thrashing at Bolton Wanderers a week ago.
Alex Pritchard came into the side, with Leon Dajaku making way.
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And the presence of Defoe, who is not match-fit having played just nine minutes of football for Glasgow Rangers all season, left open the possibility of a cameo appearance on his return to Wearside after four-and-a-half years away.
Former Fleetwood midfielder Matete was also expected to be given gametime at some point.
Doncaster Rovers boss Gary McSheffrey made four changes, in his case to the side that started the midweek 5-0 home defeat against Rotherham United.
New signings Reo Griffiths and Ben Jackson made their full debuts, while Josh Martin and Ro-Shaun Williams also came into the side, in place of Kyle Knoyle, Branden Horton, Joe Dodoo, and Adam Clayton.
Former Sunderland defender Ollie Younger, who joined Rovers during the transfer window, started on his return to Wearside.
You can follow the game as it happens today with our live blog here.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Hoffmann, Winchester, Batth, Doyle, Gooch, Evans, Neil, Cirkin, Pritchard, Embleton, Stewart
Subs: Patterson, Dajaku, Defoe, Clarke, Matete, Hume, Roberts
Doncaster: Mitchell, Williams, Oluwu, Younger, Seaman, Smith, Rowe, Jackson, Martin, Odubeko, Griffiths
Subs: Jones, Knoyle, Clayton, Barlow, Dodoo, Gardner, Agard
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