Norwich vs Sunderland team news: Sebastien Bassong returns in pivotal relegation clash against unchanged Black Cats

Norwich make just one change while Sam Allardyce has a fully fit squad to choose from

(2015 Getty Images)

Norwich have made one change to their starting line-up for the Premier League clash with Sunderland, knowing that a victory will effectively relegate basement club Aston Villa to the Championship and see them take a giant stride towards survival.

With four points separating 17th-placed Norwich and 18th-placed Sunderland, the match represents one of the biggest games of the season for both clubs.

However, Norwich are without key defender Timm Klose due to injury, with Sebastien Bassong returning to the defence with Russell Martin still unavailable.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce names an unchanged line-up for the must-win trip to Carrow Road, although he is able to recall fit-again striker Duncan Watmore to the substitutes’ bench after he recovered from a calf injury.

Watmore’s return gives Allardyce a fully fit squad to choose from, and he knows that there will no excuses if they fall to the Canaries in what is likely to be a pivotal match in the relegation dogfight.

Teams

Norwich City: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Jarvis, Howson, O'Neil (c), Brady; Naismith; Mbokani.

Subs: Jerome, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Redmond, Pinto.

Sunderland: Mannone, Yedlin, van Aanholt, Kaboul, Kone, Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Cattermole, Borini, Khazri, Defoe.

Subs: Pickford, Jones, O'Shea, Larsson, Toivonen, Watmore, N'Doye.