Here is our predicted starting line-up as Sunderland travel to Norwich City.
Sunderland will look to bring their three-game run of defeats to an end this weekend as they visit Carrow Road.
The Black Cats now sit eight points adrift from the playoff positions, while supporters are still recovering from the news that Jack Clarke will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Mike Dodds‘ side will have to make do without their star winger though, and will somehow have to break down Norwich’s impressive unbeaten home record stretching back almost four months.
The Black Cats have lost only one of their last six meetings with the Canaries though, while they have won in all of their last three trips to Carrow Road – scoring seven goals and conceding only once.
Sunderland will be hoping to keep up that record against this weekend’s opponents, while Mike Dodds will be desperate to get his starting line-up right this time.
Sunderland predicted XI vs Norwich
Anthony Patterson retains his place in between the sticks as usual. The goalkeeper has failed to pick up a clean sheet in his last six games, but couldn’t do much about the defences’ terrible performance against Swansea.
Trai Hume is one of few players who can take credit for recent performances, with the defender set to keep his place at right-back this weekend.
Dan Ballard serves the second of his two-match suspension, so Luke O’Nien and Jenson Seelt will form a central two at Carrow Road.
Mike Dodds will definitely revert to a back four after last weekend’s shocker, so Leo Hjelde will return to his natural position on the left, with Callum Styles dropping to the bench.
While the interim coach could push Styles into midfield or even start Chris Rigg, I think he will instead go for the safer option of keeping Pierre Ekwah and Dan Neil together.
It has been a while since Jobe Bellingham has impressed, but his relationship with Dodds is likely to keep him in the starting line-up once again. Adil Aouchiche will be wondering what he has to do to get another chance in the team.
With Jack Clarke out, Romaine Mundle could be handed his first start after he was surprisingly dropped against Swansea. The winger put on a promising performance against Birmingham and will be expected to work his magic this time round.
Abdoullah Ba keeps his place, with no real alternative available for Dodds.
Nazariy Rusyn looks to have been handed a run in the starting line-up, but with a midweek clash against Leicester coming up, he could potentially be rested.
While it seems more likely that Mason Burstow would start, Luis Hemir Semedo‘s bright cameo at the weekend gives me hope that he will be awarded his first start since the opening day defeat to Ipswich Town.