Sunderland will look to build on their remarkable win against Chelsea when they host Everton.
Bent poser for Black Cats; Everton still without banned Fellaini
Sunderland will look to build on their remarkable win against Chelsea when they face Everton on Monday night.
The Black Cats cruised to a hugely impressive 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge last time out courtesy of goals from Nedum Onuoha, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck.
The result extended Sunderland's record to seven points from three games since the humiliating 5-1 defeat to North East rivals Newcastle.
Steve Bruce's side have played all the top clubs already and will feel they can now push on in the next few weeks and consolidate a position among the upper echelons of the Premier League.
However, Bruce has admitted that he faces a major selection dilemma for the visit of the Toffees after welcoming Darren Bent back to fitness.
Bent has missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury and it would usually be a straightforward decision for Bruce to recall his top scorer, but Gyan and Welbeck were so impressive against the Blues that it is a tough call.
David Meyler is working his way back towards full match fitness following a serious knee injury, but Fraizer Campbell (also knee) remains on the sidelines.
John Mensah (shoulder) and Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) will be missing once again for a clash between two of the tightest defences in the division.
Everton news
But while Everton, like Sunderland, have only conceded 13 times in the league so far, they have yet to hit top form in front of goal.
David Moyes' side have slipped back towards the relegation zone after collecting just two points from their past three games and were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal last time out.
Such is the congestion in mid-table, though, that a victory at the Stadium of Light would catapult the Toffees from 16th to 10th and within one point of Sunderland.
Everton will again be without midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who serves the second match of a three-game suspension for his sending-off against Bolton earlier this month.
Moyes has reported no fresh injury concerns following last week's friendly internationals, leaving Leon Osman (ankle), Victor Anichebe (knee) and Ross Barkley (broken leg) as the only major absentees.
Possible starting XIs
Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Bramble, Turner, Bardsley, Zenden, Cattermole, Henderson, Richardson, Bent, Gyan.
Everton: Howard, Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Heitinga, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha.
