Sunderland welcome Norwich City in the Championship on Saturday. It’s another challenging clash for the Black Cats who are just two points outside the top two.
As things stand, Sunderland sit in 4th place of the Championship table after that impressive 3-2 win at Swansea City last time out.
The Black Cats staged a three-goal comeback in the second half after going two goals behind before 17 minutes, highlighting Regis Le Bris’ side inconsistency of late.
Norwich City are in 12th and already 14 points behind Sunderland. Last time out, the Canaries lost 2-1 at home to Burnley.
They’ve won just two of their last 12 in the Championship. Last season, Sunderland beat Norwich City 3-1 at the Stadium of Light, before losing the reverse fixture at Carrow Road 1-0.
Sunderland team and injury news vs Norwich City
Speaking to the press on Thursday afternoon, Le bris shared the latest Sunderland team news, suggesting that everyone is fit and ready to play, barring those injured of course.
Tommy Watson is sidelined for two months but Romaine Mundle is nearing his comeback, along with Jenson Seelt and Ian Poveda who were spotted in training ahead of the Norwich City game.
The Black Cats also remain without Ahmed Abdullahi, Salis Abdul Samed, Alan Browne and Niall Huggins.
On Thursday, Le Bris gave an injury update on Samed with the midfielder yet to feature since joining on loan from RC Lens in the summer.
Samed is set to return at the end of December, possibly featuring in Sunderland’s final game of 2024 against Stoke City.
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Sunderland predicted lineup vs Norwich City, Dennis Cirkin call to be made
One player who was poor against Swansea last time out was Dennis Cirkin. The left-back has been one of the stars of the season, but Cirkin looked off the pace against Swansea in what was his first start since surgery on a broken wrist.
Luke O’Nien replaced Cirkin at left-back against Swansea and the change saw Sunderland go on to score two more goals.
Whether Le Bris makes the same change for Norwich remains to be seen. But Cirkin surely starts if fit enough to do so.
Elsewhere, Le Bris really doesn’t have many changes to consider with his best rotational options currently injured. It could mean an unchanged line up against Norwich City on Saturday.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will lien up against Norwich, with kicks off at 3pm on Saturday…
Patterson (GK)
Cirkin
Ballard
Mepham
Hume
Bellingham
Neil
Mayenda
Rigg
Roberts
Isidor