Aston Villa pose an excellent opportunity for Sunderland to return to winning ways after losing five successive games. Critically for Sunderland’s chances Villa will be without their solitary shining light this season, Jordan Ayew. However, Sunderland have absentees of their own at the back and could miss Sebastián Coates and John O’Shea, although that might be a blessing in disguise considering Sam Allardyce’s side have conceded a whopping 38 goals so far. Graham Searles
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Stadium of Light
Last season Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4
Referee Craig Pawson
This season G14, Y43, R1, 3.14 cards per game
Odds H 6-4 A 9-4 D 23-10
Sunderland
Subs from Pantilimon, Brown, Yedlin, Gómez, Lens, Fletcher, Borini, Graham, Buckley, Gooch, Robson
Doubtful Coates (hip), Fletcher (match fitness), O’Shea (calf)
Injured Larsson (knee, 12 Jan), Kaboul (hamstring, 23 Jan), Matthews (ankle), Rodwell (hamstring, both unknown)
Suspended None
Form WLLLLL
Discipline Y38 R2
Leading scorers Defoe, Fletcher 4
Aston Villa
Subs from Bunn, Gil, Ilori, Clark, Richards, Bacuna, Crespo, N’Zogbia, Traoré, Kozak
Doubtful Okore (knee)
Injured Agbonlahor (back, 9 Jan), Sánchez (hamstring, 12 Jan), Amavi (knee), Gardner (ankle, both unknown)
Suspended Ayew, Westwood (both one match)
Form LDLDDL
Discipline Y38 R0
Leading scorer Ayew 5
