Sunderland will be looking to get their Championship play-off push back on track on Saturday afternoon as they travel to relegation-threatened Hull City.
Tony Mowbray’s side disappointed last Monday as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against West Brom at the Stadium of Light, and the former Blackburn Rovers boss may ring the changes in hope of a more positive result this weekend.
The Black Cats have welcomed back the likes of Ross Stewart and Daniel Ballard from injury after the World Cup break, but it may still be too soon for them to start at the KC Stadium on Saturday.
Here is how Football FanCast expects Mowbray to line up his Sunderland side this afternoon, with three changes from the team which started against West Brom last time out.
Patterson; Gooch, Alese, Batth, Cirkin; Roberts, Neil, Evans, Clarke; Diallo, Simms (4-4-2)
Anthony Patterson looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks for Sunderland any time soon, having played every minute of their league campaign, so he keeps his place in goal.
There is one change in defence as Dennis Cirkin returns at left-back, with Aji Alese reverting to centre-back alongside Danny Batth to make room for the former Spurs man, as Luke O’Nien drops to the bench.
Having opted for 4-2-3-1 in recent games, Mowbray should revert to a 4-4-2 for this away trip, with Patrick Roberts returning on the right-hand side of midfield, while Jack Clarke comes in for Elliot Embleton (a lowly 17th in WhoScored‘s rankings of Sunderland players this term) on the left.
The former Leeds United winger is a “wonderful talent” according to his manager, and no Sunderland player has contributed to more goals this season, so he deserves to start out wide at the KC Stadium, with Corry Evans and Dan Neil retaining their places in the middle.
Finally, Ellis Simms starts up front alongside the in-form Amad Diallo, with Alex Pritchard dropping to the bench after a disappointing display in midweek.
