Three consecutive defeats against Bolton, Doncaster and Cheltenham have seen the Wearsiders drop to 4th in the League One table.
At former clubs Preston and Norwich, Neil has often used a 4-2-3-1 formation, like the one Sunderland have been playing with for most of the campaign.
Against Cheltenham new signings Trai Hume, Jay Matete and Jack Clarke all made their full Sunderland debuts.
Here’s the SAFC side we think could start at Plough Lane:
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