LUKE O'NIEN and Elliot Embleton return to Sunderland's starting line-up for this evening's Championship game at Sheffield United.

O'Nien replaces Dan Ballard in the back three, having come off the bench to replace the injured summer signing during Saturday's 2-2 draw with QPR.

Alex Neil is sticking with his 3-5-2 formation at Bramall Lane, which will mean O'Nien playing alongside Danny Batth and Dennis Cirkin in the backline.

Embleton replaces Corry Evans in midfield, having also been a substitute in Saturday's game at the Stadium of Light.

Evans' unavailability means Sunderland have selected an attacking midfield line-up, with Embleton set to play alongside Dan Neil and Alex Pritchard.

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has made two changes from his side's weekend's draw with Middlesbrough, with James McAtee and Rhian Brewster replacing John Fleck, who drops down to the bench, and the injured Billy Sharp.


SHEFF UTD (3-5-2): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Norrington-Davies; Baldock, McAtee, Berge, Norwood, Lowe; Ndiaye, Brewster.

Subs: Amissah (gk), Fleck, Basham, McBurnie, Khadra, Doyle, Jebbison.

SUNDERLAND (3-5-2):Patterson; O'Nien, Batth, Cirkin; Gooch, Neil, Pritchard, Embleton, Clarke; Simms, Stewart.

Subs: Bass (gk), Roberts, Diamond, Wright, Matete, Hume, Alese.