Knights is an England Under 16 international and is in his first year as an academy scholar at Town and will be named on the bench for the match at The Stadium of Light taking squad number 22.
Another young academy product, Shane Supple is also included as second choice goalkeeper with regular deputy for Kelvin Davis, Lewis Price currentley out on loan at Cambridge United to gain first team experience.
Tommy Miller is included despite an Elbow problem, but Town will leave it until the last possible minute before deciding if the former Hartlepool midfielder will be involved at all against The Black Cats.
Full Squad: Bent, Bowditch, Collins, Counago, Davis, De Vos, Diallo, Horlock, Knights, Kuqi, Magilton, Miller, Naylor, Richards, Supple, Westlake and Wilnis.