French striker Louis Saha will partner Steven Fletcher in the Sunderland attack for tonight's League Cup tie with local rivals Middlesbrough.

Adam Johnson and Lee Cattermole also start the encounter, but Irish winger James McClean has dropped out.

Visiting Boro have handed a start to Scott McDonald up front and he will play alongside Ishmael Miller.

Former Sunderland midfielder Grant Leadbitter has also been included in the starting lineup.

Sunderland: Westwood; Bardsley, Colback, O'Shea, Cuellar; Cattermole, Vaughan, Johnson, Sessegnon; Saha, Fletcher

Middlesbrough: Steele; Friend, Hoyte, Bikey, Hines; Leadbitter (c), Haroun, Ledesma, Bailey; McDonald, Miller