Sunderland are preparing for their first pre-season friendly of the summer against South Shields - but who will start for Tony Mowbray’s side?
The Black Cats are set to play two matches on Saturday, with half the squad facing South Shields (12:30pm kick-off) and half the squad facing Gateshead (4pm kick-off) later in the day.
Both games will see a mix of first-team and youth-team players be involved as they gain valuable minutes ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Sunderland still have several players unavailable due to injuries which were sustained during the last campaign.
Here’s our predicted line-up to face South Shields:
![The 23-year-old started every Championship fixture for Sunderland last season and is set to be the club’s first-choice option for the upcoming campaign.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ0YzZiY2UxLWExZTQtNDkyMi04M2Q4LWE2YmUxMzFlZjBjMTo0NzJiMjM0Zi03MDg3LTQ0ZDAtOWIzNi0zZDY5YmFkMTk4NmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. GK: Anthony Patterson
The 23-year-old started every Championship fixture for Sunderland last season and is set to be the club’s first-choice option for the upcoming campaign. Photo: Martin Swinney
![Gooch’s versatility once again proved a big assist last season. The 27-year-old will have strong competition from Trai Hume for the right-back position though.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmE5OGUzNGUzLTkwMjctNDY4YS05NDE5LTQ2ZjA2YWJmNTY4OToxNGUwY2E4My04NjI4LTRjYmYtOWEzNC1hZjgzNTQ1ZGUxZGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. RB: Lynden Gooch
Gooch’s versatility once again proved a big assist last season. The 27-year-old will have strong competition from Trai Hume for the right-back position though. Photo: Frank Reid
![While he played in central midfield and at full-back last term, O’Nien’s best performances came at centre-back. The 27-year-old is preparing for the start of his sixth season at Sunderland.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmY0NzdmZDJkLTIwMWEtNGUzNS1hNzhmLTRkMWUzMDgxMzg2NzphMjU3MDEwNy00OTRjLTQ5ZDUtOTg1OS03ZmI0NzQ2ZjRjYzA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. CB: Luke O’Nien
While he played in central midfield and at full-back last term, O’Nien’s best performances came at centre-back. The 27-year-old is preparing for the start of his sixth season at Sunderland. Photo: Frank Reid
![Crompton, 19 joined Sunderland from Shrewsbury last summer and was a regular for the Black Cats’ under-21s side last season.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjEzNjJjZmYwLWIyM2EtNDI5ZS1hMmQzLTE4Y2FiYTQwNGY1ODowZGU0NDk1Ni05YWM4LTRjMWMtYjI2Yi1iMjc5NGU5N2FhMWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. CB: Ben Crompton
Crompton, 19 joined Sunderland from Shrewsbury last summer and was a regular for the Black Cats’ under-21s side last season. Photo: FRANK REID