Sunderland manager David Moyes has suggested that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has moved ahead of Vito Mannone in the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.
Since Mannone was injured in August, Pickford has impressed between the sticks and his performances were considered good enough to earn a call-up to the England squad last week after Tom Heaton was forced to drop out.
Moyes has encouraged Pickford to avoid any complacency but he has informed Mannone that he will have work to do to regain his place in the team
The 53-year-old is quoted by the Shields Gazette as saying: "Vito will now need to know that he will have to push Jordan out. Jordan has played so well.
"I'm glad Vito is coming back because maybe Jordan will need to realise, as well, that, in this big world of football, the moment you get in the big chair, there is always someone going to try and take you off it."
Sunderland currently sit bottom of the standings after failing to win any of their opening seven games.
Darren Plant
