Regis Le Bris is tasked with picking a Sunderland XI to go up against one of the best sides the Championship has ever seen in Leeds United, with the two teams going head to head at Elland Road on Monday.
Leeds United could well break the Championship points record this season. Daniel Farke’s side look in mint condition ahead of the visit of Sunderland on Monday, with no defeats in 14 in the league.
The Black Cats aren’t in bad nick either. The Black Cats are in 4th and only seven points behind leaders Leeds, after Sunderland beat Luton Town 2-0 in midweek.
Leeds meanwhile beat Watford 4-0 in their last outing. But the Yorkshire side will be well aware of the threat that the Black Cats pose, having been held to a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light earlier in the campaign.
- READ MORE: ‘One of the best’… What Leeds United boss Daniel Farke thinks about Regis Le Bris and Sunderland
Sunderland team and injury news vs Leeds United
Regis Le Bris revealed a double boost for his Sunderland side in his Friday presser, with Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne set to return to the match day squad.
Mundle has been absent with a hamstring injury whilst Browne suffered a leg fracture before the turn of the year. Expect both to be on the bench against Leeds, though.
Elsewhere, Jenson Seelt and Ahmed Abdullahi remain in the comeback trail with both impressing for the U21s of late. But both seem to be in need of more development team games before they come into first-team contention.
Tommy Watson is still a week or so away from being available for match action.
Sunderland predicted lineup to face Leeds United
The Sunderland XI may not change at all from the side that beat Luton in midweek. But Le Bris has himself in a bit of a pickle at centre-back with Dan Ballard having replaced Chris Mepham last time out.
Ballard is viewed as the more physical of the two but against a more technical and pacey Leeds side, Mepham may be preferred alongside Luke O’Nien.
Other than that we may not see any changes at all. One that Le Bris could consider is Chris Rigg, though. Against Luton, Sunderland fans were critical of Rigg who seems to be in desperate need of a rest amid this breakthrough season.
If Rigg is benched then that could mean Bellingham playing further forward, and Salis Abdul Samed partnering Neil in the holding midfield two.
And whether or not Le Bris goes with one or two up top remains to be seen. One has been his preferred option of late though, and having one start means there’s one to bring off the bench later on.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will line up against Leeds United on Monday night…
Patterson (GK)
Cirkin
O’Nien
Mepham
Hume
Salis
Neil
Le Fee
Bellingham
Roberts
Isidor