The Black Cats beat promotion rivals Ipswich at the Stadium of Light last time out after late goals from Luke O’Nien and Aiden McGeady.
It’s a result which moved Sunderland back into the play-off places, with games in hand on the sides above them.
Johnson is now preparing for a busy run of games and will hope his squad don’t pick up any more injuries, after defender Dennis Cirkin was ruled out until the new year with a hernia issue.
The setback meant O’Nien moved to left-back against Ipswich and will probably have to play there for the foreseeable future.
Another option would be for Johnson to change his system and play with win-backs.
Here’s the Sunderland side we think could start against Shrewsbury.
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![Made a couple of important saves against Ipswich as Sunderland kept a much-needed clean sheet.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBlMjNlYmUxLWNiM2YtNGQ5NC04NWJhLTQxOGE0YzM2YjBlMDoxZTYwZDcyOC01NmQ1LTQxNGEtODNkMy04M2NhYzYxYjI3MWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. GK: Thorben Hoffmann
Made a couple of important saves against Ipswich as Sunderland kept a much-needed clean sheet. Photo: JPI Media
![Produced a steady display against Ipswich as Sunderland defended much better than in recent weeks.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ2NmZjNTc5LTUwYTctNDExMy04YjY2LWYyYjRmYTNmMmVkZTo3N2YwYWZkMS1hMmVhLTQwMWUtOTY4Zi1lNjMyNTQ1MjQ1ODY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. RB: Carl Winchester
Produced a steady display against Ipswich as Sunderland defended much better than in recent weeks. Photo: JPI Media
![Started ahead of Tom Flanagan against Ipswich and deserves to keep his place after a solid defensive display.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBjYzg1MjYzLTg3MmUtNDFiMi1hNDFlLWQ2YWZlMmZkZmVjMTo3MzZhNGFjYy00ZDE1LTQ4MDctYWM5ZS1mMzJjNTQ2MWQ3NTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. CB: Bailey Wright
Started ahead of Tom Flanagan against Ipswich and deserves to keep his place after a solid defensive display. Photo: JPI Media
![Kept his place against Ipswich after a few challenging displays. Not flawless in possession but helped keep Town striker Macauley Bonne on the fringes.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmMyMzUwYTk5LWM1NzAtNDg4MC04ODY4LTIxZWZlOGE5ZTRkMTo4ZGNhNDFhZC1iMzRiLTRjMGQtYTJiZS1hZWE3Y2Q3MDZlODc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. CB: Callum Doyle
Kept his place against Ipswich after a few challenging displays. Not flawless in possession but helped keep Town striker Macauley Bonne on the fringes. Photo: Frank Reid