SANTIAGO VERGINI and Seb Larsson return to Sunderland's starting line-up for this evening's Premier League game at Manchester City.

Vergini replaces the suspended Phil Bardsley in the back four, although it remains to be seen whether the Argentinian lines up as an orthodox right-back or as part of three centre-halves.

Larsson returns to the midfield in place of the injured Ki Sung-Yueng, and is an option to start at wing-back if Gustavo Poyet decides to go with three centre-halves.

Connor Wickham and Fabio Borini continue to fill the attacking roles, with Jozy Altidore and Ignacio Scocco again consigned to the bench.

With Carlos Cuellar and Craig Gardner unavailable because of injury, youngsters Liam Agnew, El-Hadji Ba and Charis Mavrias are named among the substitutes.

As expected, Sergio Aguero has been passed fit to take his place in Manchester City's starting line-up, and the Argentina international will partner Alvaro Negredo up front.

MAN CITY (4-4-2): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Milner, Garcia, Fernandinho, Nasri; Negredo, Aguero.

Subs: Pantilimon (gk), Lescott, Richards, Clichy, Rodwell, Dzeko, Jovetic.

SUNDERLAND (3-4-1-2): Mannone; Vergini, O'Shea, Brown; Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, Alonso; Johnson; Borini, Wickham.

Subs: Ustari (gk), Ba, Agnew, Mavrias, Giaccherini, Altidore, Scocco.