Sergio Aguero has been dropped to the bench for Manchester City's Boxing Day clash with Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.

The Argentine made his return from injury against Arsenal on Monday night but was unable to complete the game, and Manuel Pellegrini has opted to take things easy with his star striker.

Wilfried Bony returns to replace Aguero up front in one of two changes for City, with Raheem Sterling also returning in place of Fabian Delph.

There is also a notable inclusion on Man City's bench, with captain Vincent Kompany back in the matchday squad but not yet fit enough to start.

Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, has made a host of changes in an attempt to stop his side's three-match losing streak, with a change of formation from the Sunderland boss this afternoon.

The Black Cats will revert to four at the back as Younes Kaboul drops out, while there is also a change between the sticks with Vito Mannone displacing Costel Pantilimon.

Allardyce could also go with three up front as Fabio Borini, Danny Graham and Steven Fletcher are all brought in, with Jermain Defoe dropping to the bench and Duncan Watmore out of the matchday squad altogether.

The other changes see Jordi Gomez come into the midfield in place of Ola Toivonen and Adam Johnson handed a start ahead of Jack Rodwell.

Manchester City: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling; Bony
Subs: Caballero, Kompany, Clichy, Demichelis, Navas, Delph, Aguero

Sunderland: Mannone; Jones, O'Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt; M'Vila, Gomez, Johnson; Borini, Graham, Fletcher
Subs: Pantilimon, Brown, Cattermole, Lens, Defoe, Toivonen