The Sunderland side that should start against Robins’ Sky Blues
Sunderland face Coventry City in their opening game of the Championship campaign tomorrow – but who will start for the Black Cats?
Alex Neil’s side went on a 16-match unbeaten run at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, which concluded with the club winning promotion from League One at Wembley.
Neil has managed his squad’s gametime during preseason by rotating his side for friendly fixtures.
The Black Cats boss has often set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but has also used a back three in some matches.
So here’s the Sunderland side we think could start against Coventry at the Stadium of Light...
GK: Anthony Patterson Played every match following Neil's arrival in February last season and impressed as the Black Cats won promotion. DespitethearrivalofAlexBass, Patterson is expected to start the season as Sunderland's first-choice goalkeeper.
RB:LyndenGooch-Gooch played on the right of a back four in Sunderland's three play-off matches and has continued to play there in pre-season after signing a new deal on Wearside.
CB: Daniel Ballard - The defender joined Sunderland from Arsenal in June and has impressed during pre-season. AfterplayingregularlyforMillwall in the Championship last season, he looks like the Black Cats' first-choice centre-back going into the new campaign.
CB: Bailey Wright - Another player who has played every competitivefixtureunderNeil. Wright returned late for preseason after helping Australia qualify for the World Cup. He was a dependable option during the side's 16-match unbeatenrunwhichledtopromotion.
LB: Dennis Cirkin - Sunderland need to strengthen at left-back and there was an overreliance on Cirkin during the last campaign. The 20-year-old refound his form underNeil,though,andhasimpressed in pre-season.
CM: Corry Evans - After a slowstarttohisSunderlandcareer,theclub'scaptainbecame a key player under Neil. The 31-year-old is set to keep the captain'sarmbandthisseason.
CM: Dan Neil - Following his first-team breakthrough in the first half of last season,
Neil didn't feature much following Sunderland's change of head coach. The midfielder has looked refreshed in preseason,though,andcouldstart the campaign as a partner for Evans.
RW: Patrick Roberts Once he regained his match sharpness, the former Manchester City and Celtic winger added real quality to Sunderland's attack at the end of last season. Roberts has played in the Championship before and willbelookingtoprovehimself after a full pre-season.
CAM: Alex Pritchard Pritchard has also played in the Championship before and looked a class above League One level when he was fit last term. The playmaker should also benefit from a full preseason after missing last summer’s build-up.
LW: Jack Clarke - Sunderland have signed the winger permanentlyfromTottenham HotspurfollowingClarke'sloan spell at the Stadium of Light last season. At 21, the player still has plenty of time to improve.
ST: Ross Stewart - After scoring 26 goals in League One lastseason,thestrikerwillnow be looking to prove himself in the league above.