Head coach Régis Le Bris has some big calls to make as Sunderland return to Europa League action on Thursday night.
Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor remain major injury doubts, while Brian Brobbey is set to be rested again before returning from a hamstring injury against Leeds United on Sunday. A number of players will miss out again having not been registered in the Europa League squad due to homegrown player restrictions, including Chemsdine Talbi, Jocelin Ta Bi and Juan Riquelme.
Here’s our best guess as to how Le Bris might approach it, both with his starting XI and from the bench...
5. LB - Dayann Methalie
Seems highly likely to get another start here as he gets up to speed and settles at his new club. | Sunderland Echo, Chris Fryatt
6. CM - Jules Ahoka
Ahoka was excellent in Leiria last week and that seems almost certain to earn him another start here and in the Carabao Cup against Brentford next week. | Getty Images
7. CM - Noah Sadiki
Sadiki's minutes will have to be carefully managed given his workload so far but after conducting pre-match media duties, he seems likely to go again here to try and build on that brilliant late winner last Thursday. | Sunderland Echo, Chris Fryatt
8. CM - Chris Rigg
Rigg looks set for another start having been a permanent fixture in the cup games so far this season. | Getty Images