Sunderland predicted line-up vs Stoke City: Can Tony Mowbray squeeze in midfield star?

Which key midfielder, who has only started three league games since Christmas, might Tony Mowbray include in his starting XI for the Stoke game?

Sunderland welcome Alex Neil's Stoke City to the Stadium of Light as they look to get back to winning ways following back to back defeats.

Mowbray has confirmed that Lynden Gooch is back in training but won't be in contention for a return till next week, whilst Dennis Cirkin continues to deal with problems caused by his concussion injury sustained against Millwall.

Captain Corry Evans, top scorer Ross Stewart and midfielder Elliot Embleton remain long-term absentees.

Sunderland will be hoping to get one over their old boss Neil when they take on Stoke on Saturday.

Stoke currently sit 17th in the table nine points behind ninth placed Sunderland. The Black Cats will be hoping for a win after 2-1 losses to Coventry and Rotherham last week, leaving them five points adrift of the play-off places.

Sunderland predicted XI vs Stoke (4-2-3-1)

How Mowbray might line-up for the visit of Stoke?

GK: Anthony Patterson – Will continue between the posts for Sunderland as speculation mounts over an England call-up.

RB: Trai Hume – Gooch’s return to fitness could soon mean a deserved break for Hume who has played 90 minutes in 12 of Sunderland’s last 13 games. For now, though, Hume is the man. 

CB: Danny Batth © – Unlucky not to score when his header hit the bar against Coventry.

CB: Dan Ballard – Faced his toughest test of the season up against Viktor Gyokeres last weekend, winning three tackles and 9/12 duels.

LB: Aji Alese – There isn’t much competition at left back for Alese due to Cirkin’s ongoing concussion issues.

CM: Dan Neil – Edging closer to a long-term deal at his boyhood club as he approaches his 100th appearance. An absolute key man.

CM: Alex Pritchard – Sunderland look more threatening with Pritchard on the pitch so Mowbray may try to shoehorn him in to a deeper role.

RM: Patrick Roberts – Created the most chances in the match against Coventry with three and also completed six dribbles.

AM: Amad Diallo – Has delivered sub-par performances as of late but his consolation goal against Coventry showed the quality he has.

LM: Jack Clarke – Looks tired once again after his purple patch last month but  Jewison Bennette is not yet ready to compete for Clarke’s starting spot.

ST: Joe Gelhardt – Finally got off the mark against Rotherham but struggled against Coventry. There's no one else, though, is there... 

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