Debut and tactical tweak? Predicted line-up as Sunderland try to cope without Jack Clarke

How Mike Dodds reshuffle his Sunderland side to try to cope with the absence of Jack Clarke?

Is anyone else feeling a sense of déjà vu? Sunderland have sacked a manager and Mike Dodds is in charge again.

Last time that went pretty well, with him winning two of his three games in charge before Michael Beale arrived to mess everything up.

This time it could be trickier given he is missing the injured Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts, as well as the suspended Dan Ballard.

Mike Dodds promises 'interesting' Sunderland team selection to cover Jack Clarke absence

One thing it will allow him to do, though, is get quite creative with the tactical set-up, and he has promised an ‘interesting team selection’ for the visit of Swansea.

So, shall we have a try at predicting an outside of the box thinking Sunderland line-up? Why not.

Sunderland predicted line-up vs Swansea 3-4-3

GK: Anthony Patterson – Nowhere near his best lately, but no real competition either. Are those things related?

RWB: Trai Hume – Was he given the deliberate cold shoulder by Michael Beale? If he was, was it a big factor in the club’s decision to sack the former Rangers manager? We’ll likely never know, but hopefully the only thing Hume has to worry about against Swansea is his football. I fancy him to be pushed forward into a wingback position.

CB: Jenson Seelt – Mike Dodds has basically already said that Seelt will come in for an overdue chance at centre back for the suspended Dan Ballard.

CB: Luke O’Nien – The captain is just one booking away from a two-match suspension himself, but he’s as important as ever.

CB: Leo Hjelde – Despite social media rumours, the Norwegian is fit to play and may be shuffled inside to his favoured central position.

LWB: Callum Styles – Fit to make his debut after appendix surgery and could he come straight into the side in a left wingback role to help cover for the absence of Jack Clarke? Would certainly be interesting.

CM: Dan Neil – If he is fit, he plays. It’s quite simple really.

CM: Pierre Ekwah – Struggled to find his best form under Michael Beale but, Jack Clarke aside, who didn’t?

RW: Romaine Mundle – Certainly made a positive impression on his full debut against Birmingham. Fancy him to continue on the right in a narrow front three designed to stifle Swansea possession at the back.

CF: Jobe Bellingham – We know that the Bellinghams love Mike Dodds and Mike Dodds loves the Bellinghams. Probably means it’s a question of where Jobe plays rather than if he plays, and he could well revert to a centre forward role here.

LW: Nazariy Rusyn – Could he be the man to get a chance to replace Jack Clarke on the left wing? Would certainly make sense given he scored most of his goals in the Ukraine last season from that position. Good man to have around too if Sunderland plan to press Swansea high. 

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