The Black Cats welcome a somewhat rejuvenated Ipswich Town side to the Stadium of Light with the Tractor Boys winning four of their last six games to climb up to ninth in the League One table.
Paul Cook invested heavily into his side in the summer with as many as 19 signings and having endured a difficult start to the campaign the Tractor Boys are now just four points outside the play-off places and only a further point behind Sunderland ahead of Saturday’s clash.
The Wearsiders, meanwhile, are in a poor run of form having slipped to fifth in the table following three straight defeats for Johnson’s side.
The Black Cats were heavily beaten in their two latest outings at Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday and fans are growing in concern about their promotion chances.
It means Johnson faces a dilemma this weekend as to whether he sticks with the same personnel who have both started the season well and then hit a slump in form, or whether he changes things up.
Given Sunderland’s lack of attacking impetus in recent weeks there will also be question marks around whether Johnson will shake things up tactically or not for the visit of Ipswich.
Here at the Sunderland Echo we look at a possible starting XI for next weekend with one key midfielder set to miss out and a loan striker joining the attack.
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The Wearsiders, meanwhile, are in a poor run of form having slipped to fifth in the table following three straight defeats for Johnson’s side.