Sunderland will seek to get back to winning ways when they return to Championship action against Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Black Cats made a decent start to the new campaign with one win and two draws from their first three matches, but Simon Grayson's men have suffered back-to-back defeats to stunt their early season momentum.

The North East giants were comfortably beaten at home by Leeds United before going down 3-0 at Barnsley last time out, leaving the former Preston chief with much to think about over the two-week break for internationals.

And it doesn't get any easier for Sunderland when the season resumes this weekend, as they play host to Chris Wilder's impressive Sheffield United, who have so far picked up three wins from their five games, with Brentford, Barnsley, and Derby County all coming unstuck against the newly-promoted Blades.

Yet, Wilder's men have yet to pick up a point away from home this season so Grayson's Sunderland are likely to head into Saturday's encounter as favourites, although the 47-year-old has some decisions to make regarding his starting eleven following three arrivals on deadline day.

Ahead of Saturday's clash, we at FootballLeagueWorld have selected TWO Sunderland stars who should be used as impact subs against Sheffield United this weekend...

James Vaughan

Lewis Grabban has been Sunderland’s best striker so far this season, and were Grayson to shake things up and possibly play just the one up top against Sheffield United, you’d expect the 29-year-old to get the nod.

That leaves fellow summer signing James Vaughan facing the axe after failing to net in any of his first five Championship games this term, yet being reduced to a bench spot, where there is slightly less expectations on his shoulders, could be what brings the best out of the 29-year-old once again.

The Englishman clearly has quality, but you sense that he needs to get that first Sunderland goal to take the weight off his shoulders - taking him out of the firing line and unleashing him from the bench could be the way to go for Grayson this weekend.

George Honeyman

The deadline day arrivals of Callum McManaman and Jonny Williams could see Grayson shake up his midfield ranks against the Blades, and that could mean that George Honeyman is reduced to the substitute’s bench.

Yet having someone like the 22-year-old, who has already scored twice for the Black Cats this season, available off the bench could be of huge benefit to the Sunderland boss, as he brings a directness and energy that Sheffield United defenders are unlikely to want to defend against as the match wears on.

Honeyman also lends a hand defensively and thus could make an impact in both boxes off the bench on Saturday.