Sunderland Chris Rigg injury blow confirmed and likely return date in crucial spell
SUNDERLAND have confirmed Chris Rigg will be sidelined for "a couple of weeks" with the ankle injury suffered in the Boxing Day draw at Blackburn.
Rigg is missing for today's game at Stoke City and also looks set to be absent for at least the next two Championship games against Sheffield United and Portsmouth. The FA Cup tie against Stoke follows, with the Black Cats hoping Rigg will be back for the away game at Burnley on Friday, January 17.
Rigg has been replaced by Adil Aouchiche at Stoke, with the midfielder making his first Championship start of the season.
There's one other change for Sunderland, with Patrick Roberts dropping to the bench and Milan Aleksic coming in for his full Sunderland debut.
The defence is unchanged with Dan Ballard again missing. Trey Ogunsuyi, who is enjoying a prolific season in the youth ranks, is on the bench.
Ryan Shawcross is in charge of Stoke City after Narcis Pelach was sacked on Friday.
SUNDERLAND: Patterson, Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham, Aouchiche; Aleksic, Mayenda, Isidor
SUBS: Moore, Roberts, Rusyn, Connolly, Hjelde, Johnson, Alese, Ogunsuyi, Jones
STOKE: Johansson, Tchamadeu, Bocat, Wilmot, Phillips, Seko, Burger, Moran, Koumas, Junho, Cannon.
SUBS: Bonham, Gooch, Rose, Stevens, Lawal, Sidibe, Tezgel, Gallagher, Ennis.
