Sunderland make three changes for their Sky Bet Championship fixture against leaders Burnley tonight

Lynden Gooch returns to Sunderland’s starting line-up for tonight’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against league leaders Burnley. 

The defender makes his first start since mid-January, replacing Dan Ballard who suffered a hamstring injury whilst away on international duty. 

Alex Pritchard is recalled, and Pierre Ekwah is handed his full debut with Edouard Michut and Abdoullah Ba both dropping to the bench. Dennis Cirkin returns to the matchday squad. 

Jewison Bennette dislocated his shoulder while away with Costa Rica joining Corry Evans, Ross Stewart, Aji Alese and Elliot Embleton on the sidelines for the remainder of the season. 

Burnley XI: Muric, Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Beyer, Maatsen, Cullen, Brownhill, Benson, Zaroury, Tella, Barnes.

Substitutions: Peacock-Farrell, Ekdal, Vitinho, Cork, Gudmundsson, Twine, Obafemi. 

Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, Batth ©, O’Nien, Gooch, Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke, Gelhardt. 

Substitutions: Bass, Amad, Lihadji, Ba, Anderson, Michut, Cirkin.