Team News: Fabio Borini returns for Sunderland

Sunderland striker Fabio Borini has returned to the starting lineup for his side's crucial Premier League relegation battle with West Ham United this evening.

Borini was ineligible to play against his parent club as the Black Cats went down 2-1 to Liverpool in midweek, but manager Gus Poyet has put him straight back into the starting lineup alongside Connor Wickham, who celebrates his 21st birthday today.

The loanee striker is one of three changes for Sunderland from that defeat at Anfield, with Marcos Alonso returning from suspension and Ki Sung-Yeung earning a recall after scoring off the bench.

That means that Lee Cattermole and Liam Bridcutt remain in midfield, while Adam Johnson starts on the bench for the second consecutive match.

West Ham, meanwhile, make just the one change as the injured James Collins is replaced in the starting lineup by Winston Reid.

Andy Carroll and Mohamed Diame remain up front for the Hammers, who are looking for back-to-back league wins following their midweek success against Hull City.

Sunderland: Mannone; Bardsley, Alonso, Brown, O'Shea, Vergini; Ki, Bridcutt, Cattermole; Borini, Wickham Subs: Gardner, Johnson, Colback, Altidore, Cuellar, Scocco, Ustari

West Ham: Adrian; Demel, Tomkins, Reid, McCartney; Noble, Nolan, Taylor, Downing; Carroll, Diame Subs: Jaaskelainen, Jarvis, Armero, J.Cole, C.Cole, Johnson, Nocerino