ROSS STEWART and Dan Ballard both start for Sunderland in this afternoon's home game with Blackburn Rovers.

The pair were both substitutes during last weekend's draw with Hull City, but they return to the starting side at the Stadium of Light today.

Stewart replaces Ellis Simms, who drops down to the substitutes' bench, while Ballard replaces Danny Batth, who is unavailable because of injury.

Dennis Cirkin replaces Aji Alese, who is not in the matchday squad, at left-back, while Patrick Roberts comes into the side for the injured Elliot Embleton.


SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Gooch, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin; Evans, Neil; Roberts, Amad, Clarke; Stewart.

Subs: Bass, Simms, Matete, Ba, Michut, Wright, Hume.

BLACKBURN (4-2-3-1): Kaminski; Costello, Hyam, Ayala, Pickering; Morton, Buckley; Hedges, Dack, Brereton-Diaz; Gallagher.

Subs: Pears, Hilst, Whalton, Malkandy, Travis, Gallett, Phillips.