STEVE BRUCE will attempt to ensure Darren Bent's return to the Stadium of Light is not a sweet one by fielding the same team that won at Bolton seven days ago.
Bent, who was subjected to boos as he warmed up on the pitch, faces the club he left in January in a £24m deal which did not go down well with the Wearside supporters.
Sunderland will again look to Nicklas Bendtner, in many respects Bent's replacement, to spearhead their attack and he will partner Connor Wickham in attack.
SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet; O'Shea, Turner, Brown, Richardson; Larsson, Colback, Vaughan, Sessegnon; Bendtner, Wickham. Subs: Bardsley, Cattermole, Gardner, Ji, Meyler, Elmohamady, Westwood (gk).
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Given; Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; Herd, Petrov; Heskey, Agbonlahor, N'Zogbia; Bent. Subs: Ireland, Albrighton, Delfouenso, Delph, Clark, Guzan (gk), Cuellar.
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