Trio return for Black Cats

Julio Arca (hamstring), Liam Lawrence (hip) and Stephen Elliott (hamstring) have resumed training and are expected to return to the Sunderland squad for the visit of Blackburn to the Stadium of Light.

But caretaker manager Kevin Ball is not expected to make wholesale changes despite his first two matches in charge ending in defeat, though he is expected to switch to a more attacking formation.

Jon Stead, dropped for last week’s defeat at Bolton, is added to the squad while club captain Gary Breen is again expected to be among the substitutes after losing his place through suspension.

Team (from): Davis, Nosworthy, McCartney, Caldwell, D Collins, Delap, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Miller, Smith, Kyle, Elliott, Alnwick, Breen, Stead, Arca, Lawrence, Le Tallec, Woods, Bassila.