Sunderland's Younes Kaboul is out injured but fellow defenders John O'Shea and Wes Brown are in the starting XI after injury scares this week. Striker Duncan Watmore comes into the side in a three-pronged attack.

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde makes five changes from the side that lost to Norwich City for the clash against Sunderland. Jordan Ayew and Ashley Westwood serve one-game bans while Jack Grealish - his first start since early December - and Rudy Gestede come into the starting line-up in attack.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Hello and happy New Year.

It was a pretty miserable end to 2015 for both Sunderland and Aston Villa.

They could have a tough start to 2016 ahead.

Live coverage of a massive relegation tussle here.

"The biggest game of the season".

That is what Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce thinks about today.

You can see why - this is huge for both.