Sunderland go up against Middlesbrough in the Championship this weekend.
Sunderland and Middlesbrough meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.
The Sky Sport cameras will be there as Boro look to replicate their 4-0 win vs Sunderland last season.
Regis Le Bris though has guided the Black Cats to a strong start to the 2024/25 season, with his side currently sitting in 2nd place of the Championship table.
Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough meanwhile sit in 10th, but like Sunderland have lost just one league game so far this season.
- READ MORE: ‘Goals will come’… Middlesbrough expert delivers verdict and prediction ahead of Sunderland clash
Sunderland team and injury news v Middlesbrough
Le Bris spoke to the press on Thursday where he discussed a number of topics.
The Frenchman gave his verdict on whether Sunderland and Middlesbrough is a derby match, to which he says not really.
Elsewhere, the popular Sunderland manager gave an injury update on his side and ruled midfielder Alan Browne out.
The Irishman was spotted wearing a knee brace this week but Le Bris says Browne will be out for just a week.
Dan Ballard picked up an injury vs Plymouth Argyle last time out and it looked like it could be a potentially serious one.
Le Bris has played down any injury fears for Ballard, though whether he’s fit enough to start v Middlesbrough remains to be seen.
Summer signings Salis Abdul Samed and Ahmed Abdullahi remain sidelined, along with defenders Aji Alese, Niall Huggins, and Jenson Seelt.
Sunderland predicted XI v Middlesbrough
Browne looked like a good option for Le Bris this weekend. But in Browne’s absence, Chris Rigg looks set to be given another chance to prove himself in what will be a tough game.
Meanwhile, it looks like we may finally see Tom Watson in action this season; the 18-year-old is yet to feature in the Championship this season but Watson was left out of the U21s side in midweek, because he’s been training with the first-team.
Ballard may be rested as a precaution this weekend, which could mean a debut for deadline day signing Chris Mepham.
Elsewhere, expect a mostly unchanged line up from the one that lost vs Plymouth, with Le Bris unlikely to panic about his team selection after one defeat.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will line up vs Middlesbrough…
Patterson (GK)
Cirkin
Mepham
O’Nien
Hume
Rigg
Neil
Mundle
Bellingham
Roberts
Mayenda