Sunderland are set to kick off their Carabao Cup campaign with a trip to Preston North End this evening.
The Black Cats face Preston in interesting conditions after winning their opening fixture at the weekend, while the Lilywhites suffered defeat to Sheffield United.
Despite only playing one match, Preston have already sacked manager Ryan Lowe, just a day before they were due to host Sunderland.
The Lancashire outfit finished tenth in the Championship last season, before winning three of their six preseason fixtures.
They will head into tonight’s cup tie without a manager, while it will be business as usual for Regis Le Bris’ side.
The Frenchman fielded his strongest team as Sunderland beat Cardiff City at the weekend, but he is likely to make wholesale changes for the trip to Deepdale, with a league clash at Sheffield Wednesday approaching.
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Sunderland injury news
Dan Ballard remains out of action after suffering an injury during preseason.
The defender was ruled out for up to six weeks last month, which could potentially see him return for the trip to Portsmouth at the end of August.
Pierre Ekwah is available, having managed only two preseason fixtures because of injury. Le Bris has confirmed the Frenchman is now ‘ready to play’.
Leo Hjelde is also fully fit after missing out on the win over Cardiff at the weekend.
Ian Poveda, Jenson Seelt and Niall Huggins remain sidelined.
Predicted XI v Preston North End
Le Bris is likely to rest Anthony Patterson ahead of the weekend, with 34-year-old Simon Moore set to start in between the sticks on his Sunderland debut.
The goalkeeper hasn’t made a competitive appearance since Coventry’s defeat to Wexham in the FA Cup in January 2023.
Timothee Pembele is the only other natural right-back after Trai Hume, but he has looked particularly disappointing in preseason and was left out of the match-day squad at the weekend.
With the defender likely to go out on loan, Sunderland could instead push Zak Johnson out to the right.
Nectarios Triantis and Hjelde could partner up in central defence, with the Black Cats’ regulars unlikely to be risked due to Ballard’s injury.
Hjelde spent a majority of last season playing at left-back, but now looks set to be deployed in his natural position.
Le Bris surely won’t risk Dennis Cirkin on the left due to his injury record, so he could instead start Joe Anderson, who played at left-back in preseason.
Ekwah was named on the bench against the Bluebirds but wasn’t fit to feature. However, he is back to full fitness now and is expected to make his first start of the campaign.
He will be joined by Chris Rigg and Adil Aouchiche, who were both benched at the weekend.
Romaine Mundle will take Jack Clarke’s place after really impressing over the summer, while Abdoullah Ba could be given an opportunity to make his mark.
The 21-year-old’s minutes are likely to be limited this term following Poveda’s arrival, but his injury could give Ba the opportunity to catch the eye against Preston.
Eliezer Mayenda started against Cardiff, so is unlikely to be in the line-up again this evening. With Luis Hemir set for a loan exit, Le Bris could rely on Nazariy Rusyn up front.