Lee Johnson made just one change to the side that started last weekend's win against Accrington Stanley, and that alteration was forced upon him.
Tom Flanagan picked up his fifth booking of the season against Accrington, meaning he missed Sunderland's trip to Fleetwood Town through suspension, and his place was taken by Bailey Wright.
Wright's promotion to the starting line-up left a vacancy on the bench which was filled by deadline day signing Leon Dajaku, with the on-loan Union Berlin winger included in the matchday squad for the first time.
Thorben Hoffman, who made his debut against Accrington, kept his place in goal ahead of Lee Burge, while Johnson opted to stick with the midfield pairing of Luke O'Nien and Dan Neil which meant Corry Evans was again on the bench.
Fleetwood boss Simon Grayson, who had a short spell in charge of Sunderland in 2017, also made one change to his starting XI, in his case to the side that won 4-2 at Rotherham last time out.
Max Clark came into defence in place of the injured Darnell Johnson.
For live updates throughout the afternoon, follow our matchday blog here.
Today's line-ups
Sunderland: Hoffmann, Winchester, Wright, Doyle, Cirkin, O'Nien, Neil, Gooch, Embleton, McGeady, Stewart
Subs: Burge, Huggins, Evans, Alves, Dajaku, Broadhead, Pritchard
Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Hill, Clarke, Clark, C Johnson, Biggins, Rossiter, Camps, Andrew, G Garner, Morton
Subs: Crellin, J Garner, Edmondson, Matete, Baggley, Lane, Conn-Clarke
