This is the starting lineup we believe Sunderland will use against Swansea City.
This weekend, Sunderland will play their first game under the new manager after Michael Beale was fired. They will host Swansea City.
Days after the Black Cats were defeated by Birmingham City, led by former manager Tony Mowbray, the 43-year-old was fired.
After earning six points out of a possible nine in his brief time as interim manager in December, Mike Dodds will take the reins once again.
The team will be eager to start their enormous challenge of catching up the seven points that separates them from the play-off positions with a victory over Swansea.
Although the Wearside team has lost its last two games against Birmingham and Huddersfield, they have a far better record at the Stadium of Light than they have away from home.
This season, Sunderland has won 10 of their sixteen home games, whereas the Swans have only triumphed in five of their sixteen road games.
Here is our expected starting lineup for this weekend, with a few important players missing.
Swansea City matchup predictions from Sunderland
Anthony Patterson steps in between the sticks as usual.
Despite a few major errors this season, the goalie has played well overall and doesn’t have any strong competition to challenge him for the starting spot.
After what was certainly a man of the match performance the previous time out, Trai Hume remains at right-back, despite being ignored by Michael Beale when he was substituted.
Luke O’Nien will start his 33rd match of the Championship season, however this time he will be paired with Jenson Seelt. Dan Ballard will miss the game as he serves a two-match ban after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season against Birmingham.
Leo Hjelde may be out this weekend, according to certain rumors, although there has been no official word on it. We’ll cross our fingers and hope that on Saturday afternoon, he begins on the left side of defense.
For the first time since moving from Barnsley, Callum Styles could be included in the matchday roster; nevertheless, Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah will probably start the game in midfield.
Starting immediately ahead of them, Jobe Bellingham should do well under Mike Dodds, whom he has previously lauded in his playing career. Dodds defeated Leeds thanks to the teenager’s game-winning goal.
According to rumors, Jack Clarke will miss a significant amount of time due to a foot injury. This implies that Abdoullah Ba returns to the starting lineup on the right, pushing Romaine Mundle, who had a strong first start against the Blues, to the left.
After being unjustly benched in Beale’s last game as manager, Nazariy Rusyn will start up front in place of Mason Burstow.