Preston v Sunderland: Team news and predicted line-up

Sunderland are hosted by Preston North End in the Championship this weekend.

Sunderland are hosted by Preston North End in the Championship this weekend.

The Black Cats head to Deepdale where they'll be faced by a tough-looking Preston North End side, who've had a decent summer transfer window under boss Ryan Lowe.

Sunderland have had one of their own, but Tony Mowbray's side have started the campaign sluggishly, losing v Ipswich Town in the league and then Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup.

Preston meanwhile drew their opening league game v Bristol City, but were knocked out of the cup in midweek by Salford City.

Sunderland team news

There's little to report on the injury front for Sunderland, other than the usual; Ross Stewart remains sidelined along with strike partner Eliezer Mayenda, whilst the likes of Jenson Seelt, Jay Matete, Corry Evans, Elliot Embleton, and Aji Alese all remain sidelined too.

Mowbray will also be without Trai Hume this weekend, after the defender was sent off v Ipswich Town - he's serving a one-match suspension.

Predicted line-up

Patterson (GK)

Gooch

Ballard

O'Nien

Cirkin

Neil

Ekwah

Roberts

Pritchard

Clarke

Hemir

Lynden Gooch in for Hume looks like a given - Mowbray could also opt to deploy Luke O'Nien on the right of defence and bring Danny Batth back into the XI.

Elsewhere, the experience of Alex Pritchard could be preferred to Jobe Bellingham in that no.10 role, whilst Luis Hemir is expected to lead the line once more.

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