Sunderland are preparing for their Championship match against West Brom - but who will start for Mike Dodds’ side?
The Black Cats held automatic promotion chasers Leeds to a goalless draw on Tuesday, recording their fourth clean sheet in five matches. West Brom are another team targeting promotion this season, with Carlos Corberan’s side sitting fifth in the table.
Here’s our predicted Sunderland XI to face West Brom at the Hawthorns:
5. LB: Aji Alese
Alese has come off the bench in Sunderland’s last two matches and may be ready to start his first match since January following a recurrence of his quad injury. Photo: Frank Reid
6. CM: Dan Neil
Neil was Sunderland’s standout performer at Leeds, using the ball well and closing players down out of possession. The midfielder has missed just one league game this season. Photo: Frank Reid
7. CM: Pierre Ekwah
Dodds has admitted he had some honest conversations with Ekwah after the midfielder was named on the bench against Southampton and QPR. Since then, Ekwah has started Sunderland’s last four matches. Photo: Frank Reid
8. RW: Patrick Roberts
Roberts didn’t look ready when he returned to the starting XI against Blackburn following a hamstring injury. Since then, the winger has come off the bench against Bristol City and Leeds, as he looks to get back to his best. Photo: Frank Reid