MICHAEL Beale has made two changes to his Sunderland squad for today’s match against Plymouth.
Patrick Roberts and Nazariy Rusyn come in to replace Jobe Bellingham and Mason Burstow.
Beale teased the thrilling prospect of starting with Clarke, Ba, and Roberts in his pre-match press conference, and the head coach has decided to unleash the trio today. Roberts is set to play on the right flank, while Ba moves inside.
Rusyn and Burstow are a like-for-like swap from the start.
Leo Hjelde retains his place at left-back following an outstanding debut against Middlesbrough.
January signing Romaine Mundle returns as a substitute, but the game comes too soon for Callum Styles, who is still recovering from appendix surgery last month.
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Hjelde; Neil, Roberts, Ba, Ekwah, Clarke, Rusyn.
Replacements: Bishop, Pembele, Bellingham, Hemir, Burstow, Mundle, Aouchiche, Seelt, Rigg.
Plymouth (3-4-3): Hazard, Phillips, Gibson, Galloway, Mumba, Gyabi, Forshaw, Miller, Whittaker, Devine, and Hardie.
Substitutions: Sousa, Pleguezuelo, Scarr, Edwards, Randell, Waine, Sorinola, and Issaka.
