Norwich v Sunderland Team News: Sam Allardyce opts for unchanged line-up

Sam Allardyce opted to keep faith in the same starting XI for the third successive game, as Sunderland faced a make-or-break encounter at relegation rivals Norwich.

The Sunderland boss had experimented with various formations and personnel in training during the week, but ultimately named an unchanged line-up at Carrow Road.

However, there was a return on the bench for fit-again Duncan Watmore, who took the place of

Norwich centre-half Timm Klose missed out through injury, with Sebastien Bassong coming into the back four for the Canaries.

Sunderland: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Cattermole, Khazri, Borini, Defoe. Subs: Pickford, O'Shea, Jones, Larsson, Toivonen, N'Doye, Watmore.

Norwich: Ruddy, Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson, Jarvis, Howson, O'Neil, Brady, Naismith, Mbokani. Subs: Rudd, Jerome, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Redmond, Pinto.