Sunderland will be looking to build on their 2-1 win against Wigan at the weekend as they travel away to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers tonight.
The Black Cats are currently ninth in the Championship table and have the potential to end the night in the play-off spots if results go their way.
Tony Mowbray’s side beat fellow newly-promoted side Wigan in their last outing thanks to strikes from Dennis Cirkin and Elliot Embleton.
The Sunderland boss, however, may look to make some changes to freshen up his team in spite of the positive result and performance at the Stadium of Light.
Games are coming thick and fast ahead of the World Cup break and one player who could be due rest is left winger Jack Clarke, who has started all 14 matches in the league this season.
He was not at his best at the weekend and Mowbray must now unleash 18-year-old gem Jewison Bennette from the start ahead of the former Tottenham man.
Should Sunderland start Bennette?
Against Wigan, Clarke left a lot to be desired as he struggled on and off the ball. As per SofaScore, he lost 11 of his 12 individual duels as he was bullied by the opposition defenders.
In 90 minutes on the pitch, the Englishman only completed eight of his 14 attempted passes (57%) and failed with two of his three attempted dribbles.
It was a tired display from the winger and Bennette should now be given an opportunity to show what he can do from the start at Championship level.
The 18-year-old has made five substitute appearances so far this term and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.90 off the bench, scoring one goal, creating two chances, and winning 62% of his duels in 105 minutes of action.
Mowbray praised the forward’s physical attributes earlier this season, saying: “He’s very fast and direct, and is one of those electric players that gets people out of their seats.”
He is a player with the potential to make a big impact in the final third as he has the pace and positive attitude to make things happen at the top end of the pitch, which is evidenced by those comments and his statistics in a limited time on the pitch.
Journalist Josh Bunting described him as a “star boy” after the six-cap Costa Rican international scored twice against South Korea last month and the manager must now unleash the young talent from the start so that he can finally explode onto the scene with a big performance.
