Sunderland make the cross country journey to Birmingham City tomorrow.
Sunderland go up against former boss Tony Mowbray and his new Birmingham City side tomorrow, in a crucial-looking game at opposing ends of the table.
Michael Beale‘s side now sit in 10th after a midweek defeat at Huddersfield Town, though a win could lift them back into the top six.
Birmingham City meanwhile are down in 18th and looking to build on a six-point gap to the bottom three.
When these two teams met at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, Sunderland won 3-1 thanks to goals from Jobe Bellingham and Adil Aouchiche, and an own goal from former Black Cats loan man Dion Sanderson.
Latest Sunderland team news
Sunderland are carrying a few injuries right now, with Patrick Roberts the latest to join the treatment room.
The 27-year-old has suffered yet another injury to his hamstring; the same one that’s been niggling him throughout the season.
He misses out tomorrow, but we could see a debut for January signing Callum Styles with Beale saying that the Hungarian could eb named on the bench for tomorrow’s game.
Elsewhere, the likes of Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Corry Evans, and Elliot Embleton remain sidelined.
How will Michael Beale line up vs Birmingham City?
Beale may ponder a few changes for tomorrow’s game after his side’s midweek disappointment.
Sunderland failed to really lay a finger on a Huddersfield Town side that’s conceded 52 goals this season, so we could see a shake up in attack, especially with Roberts sidelined.
There could be a first start for January signing Romaine Mundle after making substitute appearances in his last two, and it’ll also be interesting to see who Beale starts up front.
25-year-old Nazariy Rusyn looks like Beale’s first choice striker right now, though with Birmingham City boasting a physical centre-back partnership of Krystian Bielik and Marc Roberts last time out, a better option might be Luis Hemir who’s yet to start under Beale.
Expect Bellingham to start against his former club, along with an unchanged back-line.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will line up at St Andrew’s tomorrow afternoon…
Patterson (GK)
Hjelde
O’Nien
Ballard
Hume
Neil
Ekwah
Clarke
Bellingham
Mundle
Hemir