Sunderland welcome Plymouth Argyle to Wearside on Saturday, for what should be an exciting clash in the Championship.
Sunderland are back at the Stadium of Light this weekend after a short trip to Middlesbrough last time out.
That game ended 1-1, putting another point on the board for Michael Beale whose side now sit in 8th place of the Championship table.
And this weekend, Beale will be hoping to take advantage of a Plymouth side who are poor on the road; the Green Army sit 22nd in the away form table in the Championship, but 7th in the home form table.
For Saturday’s game, Beale might look to hand debuts to the likes of Callum Styles, though he’s still recovering from appendix surgery, and perhaps Romaine Mundle who had a run out for the U21s in midweek.
Another player who’ll surely want to be in starting contention is Patrick Roberts.
Patrick Roberts should come in for tired Jobe Bellingham
A common theme among Sunderland fans over the past few weeks, maybe even months now, is that Jobe Bellingham is in dire need of a break.
The 18-year-old has played in all but one of Sunderland’s 30 Championship games this season, starting and finishing the bulk of those; he’s now started the last nine for the Black Cats, finish six but playing beyond 80 minutes in all.
And now could be the perfect time to give Bellingham a rest with Roberts back in contention.
After a couple of weeks on the sidelines, Roberts made his return to action vs Middlesbrough, coming off the bench to play little under half-an-hour.
Sunderland front line could be rejuvenated with Roberts
Sunderland missed Roberts when he was injured.
When he’s not on the pitch or at least on the bench, the Black Cats certainly lack that extra bit of magic that is often, solely delivered by Jack Clarke at the minute.
But Roberts is a player with that same kind of unpredictability and quality in the final third and if he’s fit to come straight back into the XI vs Plymouth, it should be an easy decision for Beale to make.
Bellingham has certainly looked leggy in recent weeks and at 18, having played so much football this season, a rest could do him the world of good.
Roberts, described as a ‘unique talent’ by Tony Mowbray, hasn’t enjoyed quite as prolific a season as last time round when he scored five and assisted seven, with just one assist to his name in the league this season, and no goals.
He’ll surely have a point to prove under Beale then, and he should be given the chance to impress the new boss this weekend.