JOBE BELLINGHAM returns to Sunderland's starting side for this afternoon's home game with Coventry City.

With his brother, Jude, watching on from the directors' box at the Stadium of Light, Jobe is back in the starting line-up for Michael Beale's first game in charge of the Black Cats.

The forward replaces Alex Pritchard in the only change to the team that started last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Bristol City, which turned out to be Mike Dodds' final game in caretaker charge.

Pritchard is suffering from an illness, and does not feature in the matchday squad.

Luke O'Nien continues to partner Dan Ballard at centre-half, with Abdoullah Ba continuing in an attacking-midfield role between Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke.

Coventry include former Sunderland striker Ellis Simms in their starting line-up.


SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Huggins, O'Nien, Ballard, Hume; Neil, Ekwah; Roberts, Ba, Clarke; Bellingham.

Subs: Bishop, Burstow, Mayenda, Rusyn, Aouchiche, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg, Dack.

COVENTRY (4-1-4-1): Collins; van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Allen; Sakamoto, O'Hare, Sheaf, Wright; Simms.

Subs: Wilson, Banks, Dasilva, McFadzean, Latibeaudiere, Godden, Ayari, Eccles, Palmer.