MARTIN O'NEILL has susprisingly recalled Connor Wickham to the Sunderland starting line-up for his first match in charge.

Nicklas Bendtner's failure to recover from a groin problem has forced O'Neill to turn to Wickham much earlier than expected.

The teenage striker had been deemed 'weeks away' from full fitness by former boss Steve Bruce, who had initially feared he would miss most of the season after damaging his knee at Manchester United last month.

There is also a return to the heart of the defence for Titus Bramble, who slots in for the injured Michael Turner alongside Wes Brown.

But there is no place for midfielder Craig Gardner, who has been forced to miss out through injury despite O'Neill's positive comments about the player in the build-up.

SUNDERLAND: Westwood; O'Shea, Brown, Bramble, Bardsley; Larsson, Colback, Vaughan, Richardson; Sessegnon; Wickham. Subs: Kilgallon, Ji, Meyler, McClean, Elmohamady, Noble, Carson (gk).

BLACKBURN: Robinson; Lowe, Samba, Dann, Salgado; Vukcevic, Pedersen, Dunn, Givet; Yakubu, Formica. Subs: Roberts, Goodwillie, Hanley, Blackman, Olsson, Henley, Bunn (gk).