Predicted Sunderland XI vs Birmingham

Sunderland shall be hoping to move into the World Cup break on a excessive as they journey away from the Stadium of Gentle to face Birmingham at St. Andrew’s within the Championship tonight.

That is the membership’s closing match between now and the third of December and must be seeking to keep away from two straight defeats earlier than the worldwide event.

Tony Mowbray’s aspect misplaced 1-0 to Cardiff at house final day out within the division and are presently sat seventeenth within the table, with a win tonight taking them as much as twelfth earlier than the weekend’s fixtures.

What number of modifications will the boss make to the crew from that defeat?

Right here is our predicted XI…

Anthony Patterson; Niall Huggins, Bailey Wright, Danny Batth, Dennis Cirkin; Daniel Neil, Corry Evans (C), Amad Diallo, Elliot Embleton, Jack Clarke; Ellis Simms

The Black Cats might make three alterations to their aspect, with Elliot Embleton, Corry Evans, and Niall Huggins all coming in.

Mowbray shall be pressured into making no less than one change because the versatile Luke O’Nien is suspended after choosing up his fifth yellow card of the season.

He started at right-back in opposition to Cardiff and his absence might open the door for 21-year-old Niall Huggins to make his long-awaited return to first-team motion.

Ought to Corry Evans begin?

The previous Leeds United full-back has not performed a senior recreation since September of 2021 and has just lately performed in three under-21 matches to construct his health again up, which signifies that he could possibly be able to be thrown again in at right-back.

In midfield, captain Evans might come for Abdoullah Ba after the Frenchman struggled in opposition to Cardiff – losing 75% (3/4) of his particular person duels and completing 68% of his tried passes.

The skipper has won 55% of his battles within the Championship and completed 82% of his passes, which means that he might are available in as an improve in the midst of the park by providing extra on and off the ball.

Lastly, Embleton, 23, might exchange Patrick Roberts as a part of the assault after Sunderland managed two photographs on the right track at house to the Bluebirds.

The Black Cats academy graduate, who was as soon as dubbed a “nightmare” by former teammate Max Energy on the SAFC Unfiltered Podcast, has proven some indicators of promise in entrance of purpose with two targets and two assists within the Championship this season.

He could possibly be unleashed from the beginning forward of Roberts, who can then be held again as an excellent sub for the second half, with a purpose to clean up the struggling assault from their defeat final day out.