Sunderland make the short trip to Middlesbrough on Monday night, which also happens to be deadline day.
Sunderland have been dealt the short straw on Monday, playing in the Championship despite it being deadline day.
Regis Le Bris has spoke about deadline day and it clashing with the Middlesbrough game. He says it’s not ideal, of course, but expect Kristjaan Speakman to be busy at the Stadium of Light trying to finalise deals.
Last time out, Sunderland drew 2-2 with Plymouth Argyle. It was a disappointing result but the point keeps the Black Cats in 4th place of the Championship table, 11 points ahead of Middlesbrough in 7th.
Middlesbrough, along with West Brom in 6th and Blackburn Rovers in 5th are all tied on 44 points right now. Michael Carrick’s Boro lost at Preston last time out, having lost three of their last four in all competitions.
| 4 | Sunderland | 29 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 42 | 24 | 18 | 55 |
| 5 | Blackburn | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 34 | 29 | 5 | 45 |
| 6 | West Brom | 29 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 38 | 25 | 13 | 44 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 29 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 47 | 36 | 11 | 44 |
Sunderland team and injury news vs Middlesbrough
Sunderland will be without Adil Aouchiche who’s joined Pompey on loan for the remainder of the season. Elsewhere, Aji Alese is out for the rest of the season, whilst the likes of Jenson Seelt and Ahmed Abdullahi are seemingly still out of contention.
Speaking on Friday, Le Bris gave an update on several players. He said Alan Browne is back in contact training, whilst Romaine Mundle could be back on grass next week and Tommy Watson in around 10 days.
Sunderland predicted lineup vs Middlesbrough as Chris Rigg returns
Last time out against Plymouth, Sunderland fans blasted Anthony Patterson’s performance, though Le Bris looks unlikely to make a goalkeeper change so soon.
Salis Abdul Samed had a decent game in midfield as he made his first league start for the Black Cats. But Sunderland fans all said the same about Samed: he slowed the game down too much.
Expect Le Bris to reinstate Chris Rigg and possibly Eliezer Mayenda to the XI against Middlesbrough, with Mayenda and Wilson Isidor able to attack Middlesbrough’s ball-playing centre-backs. Though Le Bris will want to keep Enzo Le Fee in his XI, so Mayenda may be kept on the bench again.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will line up against Middlesbrough on Monday night…
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Patterson (GK)
Cirkin
O’Nien
Mepham
Hume
Bellingham
Neil
Le Fee
Rigg
Roberts
Isidor