The Sunderland team that could start against Lincoln City in the play-off second leg - with THREE key changesThe Sunderland team that could start against Lincoln City in the play-off second leg - with THREE key changes
The Sunderland team that could start against Lincoln City in the play-off second leg - with THREE key changes

The Sunderland team that could start against Lincoln City in the play-off second leg - with THREE key changes

Sunderland boss Lee Johnson will be weighing-up changes for the second leg of the club’s play-off semi-final against Lincoln City – but could this be the team he names?

The Black Cats fell to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg at Sincil Bank as goals from Tom Hopper and Brennan Johnson left the side with an uphill battle in the second leg.

And fans are keen to see some changes for the return fixture, with Sunderland in need of goals if they are to seal a spot in the Wembley final.

The selection decision will be complicated by the injuries sustained by Denver Hume and Conor McLaughlin, with add to the club’s defensive injury woes – so what team could Johnson name?

Our writer Mark Donnelly has picked his side for the clash, and is going for changes in both personnel and shape to a 3-4-3 ahead of a season-defining fixture at the Stadium of Light: