This is the team our Sunderland writers would pick to face Bristol Rovers as Phil Parkinson weighs up big decisions

More than six months after their disappointing defeat to Bristol Rovers, Sunderland are back in League One action on Saturday and it is Ben Garner's side that they will again be facing.
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It has been an interesting summer for Rovers, with Garner beginning a major overhaul of the playing squad.

They have brought in a number of new faces, including Jack Baldwin, but were left light on striking options when Jonson Clarke-Harris joined Peterborough United.

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Sunderland fans will expect the Black Cats to build on two promising cup performances, and have been keenly debating what side Phil Parkinson will field for the season opener.

Phil Parkinson has a big decision to make on who leads the line against Bristol RoversPhil Parkinson has a big decision to make on who leads the line against Bristol Rovers
Phil Parkinson has a big decision to make on who leads the line against Bristol Rovers

After a comprehensive 8-1 win on Tuesday night, there are some key positions up for debate and Parkinson admitted himself that the game had given him 'a lot to think about'.

Charlie Wyke, Morgan Feeney, Josh Scowen, Danny Graham, George Dobson and Aiden O’Brien were all on the scoresheet in an impressive display.

Here, our Sunderland AFC writers pick the team they would name as the Black Cats look to get off to a winning start.....

Richard Mennear

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The real business starts on Saturday with the visit of Bristol Rovers to the Stadium of Light for the opening game of the 2020-21 League One campaign.

Phil Parkinson's side head into the game on the back of the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Hull City and the 8-1 thumping of Aston Villa's Under-23s in the EFL Trophy.

Confidence is high after Tuesday's win, with the forwards all among the goals, the big selection dilemma facing Parkinson is who to go with up front?

Will Grigg enjoyed an impressive pre-season and played well in the cup game against Hull, though he was the one to miss his penalty. He's expected to be given the nod to start the season though, to finally start showing why so much was invested in him.

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Parkinson will have several strong options off the bench in the shape of Charlie Wyke and Danny Graham, while Lynden Gooch will likely start on the bench too.

The goalkeeper, back three and wing-backs select themselves, a strong base from which to build.

Sunderland XI: Burge; Willis, Wright, Flanagan; O'Nien, Power, Scowen; Hume; Maguire, O'Brien; Grigg

Mark Donnelly

While the midweek victory over Aston Villa will have undoubtedly given Phil Parkinson some extra food for thought, I can't see the squad changing too drastically from that which dominated against Hull City last weekend.

I've made just two changes from that side.

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Lee Burge has earned the opportunity to start the season as the club's number one, while Parkinson looks unlikely to stray away from his favoured back three of Jordan Willis, Bailey Wright and Tom Flanagan. Out wide, Luke O'Nien and Denver Hume all-but pick themselves given the lack of alternative options.

In the middle, newly-appointed captain Max Power looks assured of a start and it would be a major surprise if he were not partnered by Josh Scowen given his stunning display in midweek - his set-piece delivery alone could be justification for a start.

Further up the field, Aiden O'Brien and Chris Maguire showed enough against Hull to warrant their inclusion against Bristol Rovers. Indeed, both look capable of delivering a moment of magic should one be required.

Up front, I've gone with Charlie Wyke.

His two-goal haul in midweek was impressive and, with Will Grigg in form and Danny Graham now on the scene, he has a point to prove.

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I'd also back Grigg and Graham to be better options off the bench than Wyke, should Sunderland be in need of a late goal.

Sunderland XI: Burge; Willis, Wright, Flanagan; O'Nien, Scowen, Power, Hume; Maguire, O'Brien; Wyke

Phil Smith

After the penalty shootout defeat to Hull City, Phil Parkinson discussed how his preferred 3-4-3 system had shifted slightly to a more attacking 3-5-2.

The thinking, he explained, was that in the previous pre-season friendly against Harrogate Town, his team had not stretched a team who were largely happy to sit and frustrate enough.

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It's a pattern we've come to see a lot at the Stadium of Light and there's no reason to think it's likely to change in the coming campaign.

A forward who can make good runs beyond the defence is key and from what we've seen so far, Will Grigg looks the best bet.

Charlie Wyke was superb against Aston Villa U21s but despite that penalty miss against Grant McCann's side, Grigg's application and threat means he is surely worthy of another opportunity to build on what looked like a promising partnership with Aiden O'Brien.

Much of the rest of the side, at this stage at least, seems to pick itself.

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Arbenit Xhemajli is going to push hard for inclusion on the left of the back three but with his match fitness not quite there yet, this Saturday looks as if it will come too soon in terms of a starting place and the same can almost certainly be said of Danny Graham.

That leaves the big call in central midfield.

Josh Scowen could not have done anymore to stake his claim with a tremendous display against Villa's youngsters.

The issue and debate for Parkinson is that playing him would likely mean Max Power returning to a more withdrawn role, when he looked sharp further forward against Hull.

It's a partnership, though, that is surely worth exploring.

Sunderland XI: Burge; Willis, Wright, Flanagan; O'Nien, Power, Scowen, Hume; Maguire, O'Brien, Grigg

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