Sport

Vergini and Buckley start for Sunderland

GUS POYET has made two changes to his Sunderland side for this afternoon's Premier League home game with Manchester United.

Santiago Vergini makes the first start of his second spell at the Stadium of Light, replacing Valentin Roberge from the side that drew at West Brom last weekend.

Vergini will start at right-back, enabling Wes Brown to revert to his preferred position of centre-half alongside another former Manchester United player, John O'Shea.

Will Buckley makes his first Sunderland start in midfield, replacing Adam Johnson, who is unavailable because of an illness.

Buckley, who was a summer signing from Brighton, is expected to start on the right flank, with Connor Wickham again playing in a wide position on the opposite side of the field.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is able to name compatriot Robin van Persie in attack, and is expected to stick with his new 3-5-2 formation despite last weekend's opening-day defeat to Swansea City.