JACK Clarke is back on the bench for Sunderland, in what is a huge fitness boost for Mike Dodds.

It's Clarke's first involvement since he suffered an ankle injury in the defeat at Birmingham in mid-February.

The winger isn't deemed ready to start but having their top scorer back in the squad and ready to play a part in the run-in is a major boost for the Black Cats.

Mike Dodds has made two changes to his team for today's game against Blackburn, with Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle replacing Chris Rigg and Abdoullah Ba, who both drop to the bench.

Jobe Bellingham continues up-front after his hugely impressive display at Cardiff, with Hemir and Mason Burstow both on the bench.

Aji Alese drops out of the squad today.

SUNDERLAND: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Styles; Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Aouchiche, Mundle, Bellingham

Subs: Bishop, Pembele, Hemir, Burstow, Ba, Clarke, Rigg, Hjelde, Dack

BLACKBURN: Pears, Brittain, Wharton, Hyam, Pickering; Tronstad, Hedges, Rankin-Costello, Szmodics, Dolan, Gallagher

Subs: Wahlstedt, Carter, Markanday, Buckley, Moran, Telovic, Ayari, Chrisene, McFadzean