Lee Johnson handed new signing Callum Doyle his first outing in red and white as Sunderland took on Scottish Premiership side Hearts in their second pre-season friendly.
The 17-year-old centre-back, who joined the Black Cats on loan from Manchester City this week, was included in the starting XI at Tynecastle.
Fellow new boy Corry Evans, who also arrived this week, is behind the rest of the squad in terms of fitness and he was named amongst the subs.
READ MORE: Sunderland signing tests positive for Covid and will miss today's friendly at Hearts
As trailed by Johnson ahead of the match, academy product Anthony Patterson started in goal ahead of Lee Burge.
Carl Winchester and summer U23 recruit Tyrese Dyce played in the full-back roles, with Doyle partnering Tom Flanagan in central defence.
Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton started in central midfield, with Lynden Gooch playing wide on the right and Aiden McGeady on the left, and Ross Stewart and Aiden O'Brien occupying the strikers' roles.
Luke O'Nien and Bailey Wright were missing from the teamsheet, although they have been with the squad this week.
O'Nien was put through a solo training session by the coaching staff before kick-off.
The other absentee was new signing Alex Pritchard, with Johnson confirming yesterday that the former Huddersfield Town man had remained in England after testing positive for Covid and being required to self-isolate.
You can follow all the action from Tynecastle in our live blog as Sunderland take on Hearts.
SAFC XI: Patterson, Winchester, Dyce, Doyle, Flanagan, Neil, MCGeady, Embleton, O'Brien, Stewart, Gooch
Subs: Grigg. Taylor, Richardson, Evans, Diamond, Younger, Wilding, Burge
