Gary Christie
Predicted Sunderland Lineup To Face Cardiff City In EFL Championship
Sunderland face a very stiff task this weekend as Chris Coleman and his men head to Cardiff for a Championship clash they badly need three points from.
Cardiff are looking to come out of a slump in form and the once challengers to Wolves really need to show their quality. True, they have their limitations but they are consistent enough and are highly likely to win this one, making it a potentially torrid afternoon for the Black Cats.
New loan signing Jake Clarke-Salter may make his debut for the club while they now have to do without the recalled Lewis Grabban.
Coleman is likely to go with a 3-4-3, looking at times like Wolves’ 5-2-3 but without the potency. The following XI could be fielded:
Probable Sunderland XI
GK – Robbin Ruiter
The free signing has established himself now and may be called up between the sticks. He’ll need to be good this weekend.
CB – Tyias Browning
Another one on loan from the Premier League, this time from Everton. Though he’s limited enough, he has a very important part to play against this Cardiff attack.
CB – John O’Shea
Doesn’t move as well as he once did, but possesses plenty of nous and will need to use every bit of it here.
CB – Jake Clarke-Salter
The arrival from Chelsea is a huge positive for the club, though the young lad may take time to settle in.
RWB – Donald Love
Sunderland will do well to remember that they won’t stay up if they don’t score goals so a good attacking display from the wing-backs is crucial.
LWB – Bryan Oviedo
Like Love, he’ll need to get forward well, something he did in his past life at Everton.
CM – George Honeyman
Honeyman played in this role against Barnsley and I think he might start here against Cardiff too.
CM – Ethan Robson
Robson should keep his place in the XI amidst Sunderland’s injury crisis.
RW – Joel Asoro
Perhaps a start for the Swede down the right in a game in which some unpredictability could pay off.
LW – Aiden McGeady
Had a great season at this level with Preston last term but understandably, he hasn’t looked the same this time around.
ST – James Vaughan
This side is not the same without Grabban, which is really saying something, though Vaughan may step up and produce when it counts.
