Mike Dodds sets out clear Sunderland selection stance for Bristol City visit and beyond

Mike Dodds has said he will pick what he believes to be Sunderland's strongest team between now and the end of the season and has warned every member of the squad that they will have to play their way into the side.

Sunderland realistically have little to play for this season with the play-off places now a distant prospect and the win over Cardiff City last Friday all but banishing any fears of being dragged into a relegation battle. However, Dodds says he is determined to put right the wrongs of the shambolic 5-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers and end the season on something of a high note.

As such, he has ruled out any significant experimentation with his team and says he won't simply hand out opportunities to players currently on the fringes for the sake of it. Aji Alese is back in contention for selection after coming through the midweek U21s win over Huddersfield Town, but significant changes to the matchday squad are otherwise unlikely for Bristol City's visit to the Stadium of Light on Friday afternoon.

"I won't experiment with the team," Dodds said.

"After Monday every individual has to earn the right to play for Sunderland Football Club. We have six massive games and one thing I won't do is let the last six games turn into a kickaround with our mates. It's an unbelievable football club, I understand the privilege I have to be leading the club so the players will earn the right to play for the last six games."

Dodds has already confirmed that he will make some changes to the starting XI as a result of Monday's game, with Chris Rigg likely to return and Jack Clarke in line for his first start since returning from an ankle problem. The interim head coach admits he wants to strike a balance between making the necessary tweaks to avoid a repeat of Monday's result, and giving those involved the chance to put right what was a dismal afternoon for all concerned.

"It's a good question," Dodds said.

"The balance is, one giving them an opportunity to correct what happened, you were that bad show me you want to represent the club properly. The other balance is letting them know it's not acceptable and taking them out of the team. But I go back to my processes, I watch the opposition and a huge amount of football. I go through all the data and pros and cons and I will always pick the team based on what I feel is best to win the game. That hasn't happened at the weekend, hence the questions for why I changed a winning team. That's always something a head coach has to live with. It's a balance between letting them know it's not acceptable and giving them an opportunity to put it right."

Dodds held a lengthy debrief with the squad when they returned to training on Wednesday, admitting that it was the first time that he has questioned their application since his arrival at the club.