Big guns start for Man City

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wheeled out his big guns once again as he looked to maintain his side’s fine start to the season.

Mancini made seven changes to the team which secured its Europa League place in midweek with Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez and James Milner, who was ineligible against Timisoara, all returning.

Sunderland counterpart Steve Bruce made three changes after Tuesday evening’s Carling Cup win over Colchester with Anton Ferdinand retained for the ineligible Nedum Onuoha and Steed Malbranque, Ahmed Elmohamady and Jordan Henderson all back.

The Black Cats went into the game looking to end a wait of almost 10 years for a top-flight victory over the visitors.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Ferdinand, Turner, Bramble, Richardson, Elmohamady, Henderson, Cattermole, Malbranque, Campbell, Bent. Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Zenden, Riveros, Welbeck, Colback, Waghorn.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Toure, Kompany, Lescott, Adam Johnson, De Jong, Toure Yaya, Barry, Milner, Tevez. Subs: Given, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, Silva, Vieira, Jo.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)