Lee Johnson made two changes to the side that started the midweek draw at Shrewsbury Town.
In came Tom Flanagan and Leon Dajaku, with Luke O'Nien and Aiden O'Brien making way against Cambridge United.
Johnson had originally intended to make three changes, with Corry Evans replacing Lynden Gooch, but ten minutes before kick-off the club announced a late change to the starting line-up with Gooch restored to the side - presumably due to Evans picking up a problem in the warm-up.
O'Nien saw a specialist yesterday about his troublesome shoulder injury, and the fact that he was omitted from the squad suggests that he will need surgery in the near future.
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O'Brien was on the Sunderland bench.
The changes meant Johnson had to reshuffle his side, with Callum Doyle playing left-back.
Cambridge boss Mark Bonner made just one change to the side that drew 2-2 against Wigan on Tuesday night.
Wes Hoolahan came into the side in place of Jensen Weir.
You can follow all today's action in our live blog here.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Hoffmann, Gooch, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle, Winchester, Neil, Broadhead, Pritchard, Dajaku, Stewart
Subs: Patterson, Alves, Embleton, O'Brien, Dunne, Harris
Cambridge United: Mitov, Williams, Masterson, Iredale, Dunk, Smith, Hoolahan, May, Digby, Brophy, Ironside
Subs: McKenzie-Lyle, Okedina, Weir, Tracey, Lankester, Knibbs, Worman
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