Ross Stewart returned to Sunderland's starting XI as the Black Cats resumed their pre-season preparations at Dundee United. Stewart missed Wednesday's friendly against Roma out in Portugal with a minor knock, but the Scotland international striker was back in the side at Tannadice Park.
Bailey Wright made his first appearance of pre-season after starting training later than most of the squad due to his involvement in World Cup qualifying over the summer, partnering new signing Daniel Ballard in central defence, with Carl Winchester and Danny Batth making way. Only three players started today that began against Roma - goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, left-back Dennis Cirkin and forward Leon Dajaku.
Trai Hume, Corry Evans, Dan Neil, Patrick Roberts, and Alex Pritchard were the other men to come in, replacing Lynden Gooch, Jay Matete, Luke O'Nien, Elliot Embleton, Jack Clarke, and Jack Diamond. New defensive recruit Aji Alese was named amongst the subs.
READ MORE: Aji Alese outlines why he left West Ham United for Sunderland
Ex-Sunderland boss Jack Ross, now in charge of Dundee United, named latest signing Craig Sibbald in his starting XI against the Wearsiders. But there was no place in the squad for another Sunderland old boy, Steven Fletcher, who joined the club earlier this month.
You can follow the action as it happens with James Hunter in our matchday live blog here, with all the full-time reaction and analysis.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Wright, Ballard, Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Roberts, Pritchard, Dajaku, Stewart.
Subs: Carney, O'Nien, Matete, Winchester, Gooch, Embleton, Alese, Clarke, Batth, Sohna, Diamond, Taylor
Dundee United: Eriksson, Smith, McMann, Mulgrew, Niskanen, Edwards, Sibbald, Meekison, Harkes, Watt, MacLeod
Subs: Adams, Graham, Clark, Chalmers, Glass, Freeman, Mochrie, Cudjoe, Watson, Duffy, Thomson
READ NEXT
- Lynden Gooch reflects on Sunderland's Portuguese training camp, and looks ahead to the new season
- Alex Neil addresses Jack Diamond's Sunderland future as he promises to give him a 'fair crack'
- Alex Neil on Ross Stewart's fitness worry and Sunderland's lack of attacking cover
- Sunderland 0-2 Roma player ratings as Black Cats struggle to make an impression against Serie A side
- Sunderland 0-2 Roma match report as Black Cats end Portugal trip with a defeat
