CHRIS MEPHAM makes his Sunderland debut in today's home game against Middlesbrough, replacing Dan Ballard at the heart of defence.

Ballard is only able to make the substitutes’ bench for the Black Cats, with neither Rav van den Berg or Jonny Howson fit enough to feature in Boro’s matchday squad.

Mepham joined Sunderland on loan from Bournemouth on deadline day, and the centre-half replaces Ballard in the only change to the side that started last weekend’s defeat at Plymouth.

Ballard suffered a foot injury in the closing stages of that game, and while he returned to training at the end of the week, he is only on the bench this afternoon.

Mepham will partner Luke O’Nien at the heart of Sunderland’s back four, with Trai Hume and Dennis Cirkin filling the home side’s full-back berths.

Eliezer Mayenda continues as Sunderland’s central striker, with Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle filling the wide-attacking positions on either side of him.

Boro boss Michael Carrick has made one change to the team that started last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Preston, with Morris returning at the heart of midfield.

Morris was on the bench last weekend after spending most of the previous fortnight on international duty with the United States, but the summer signing from Columbus Crew returns to the starting line-up at the Stadium of Light, partnering Hayden Hackney in the central-midfield area.


SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Mepham, Cirkin; Bellingham, Neil, Rigg; Roberts, Mayenda, Mundle.

Subs: Moore, Ballard, Rusyn, Isidor, Aleksic, Hjelde, Watson, Ogunsuyi, Jones.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Dieng; Ayling, Edmundson, Clarke, Borges; Morris, Hackney; Jones, Conway, Azaz; Latte Lath.

Subs: Brynn, Barlaser, McGree, Burgzorg, Dijksteel, Hamilton, Hunt, McCabe, Doak.