Bent starts for Sunderland

Blackburn v Sunderland

Darren Bent was included in Sunderland’s starting line-up for their Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn this evening.

Bent had missed England’s goalless draw with Montenegro last week with a groin problem but was passed fit for the game at Ewood Park.

Danny Welbeck, who had been ineligible to play against his parent club Manchester United, was recalled to the Wearsiders’ first XI in place of Boudewijn Zenden, with Simon Mignolet still preferred in goal to fit-again Scotland stopper Craig Gordon.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce made two adjustments to the team which had been beaten at Stoke, with Martin Olsson coming in for the injured Ryan Nelsen and Nikola Kalinic replacing Mame Biram Diouf, who dropped to the bench.

David Dunn, recently sidelined with a hamstring complaint, was also amongst the Blackburn substitutes.

TEAMS:

Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Nzonzi, Jones, Emerton, Pedersen, El-Hadji Diouf, Kalinic.

Subs: Bunn, Dunn, Mwaruwari, Hoilett, Morris, Chimbonda, Mame Diouf.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Onuoha, Turner, Bramble, Bardsley, Malbranque, Cattermole, Elmohamady, Henderson, Welbeck, Bent.

Subs: Gordon, Mensah, Zenden, Da Silva, Riveros, Ferdinand, Gyan.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)