Chris Coleman’s Sunderland side are set to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux at the weekend.
Coleman has only been in charge at Sunderland for three matches, but he has already seen enough to suggest that something needs to change.
The Black Cats may have beaten Burton Albion in their last away match, but they were brought back down to earth with a bump at the weekend, as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Reading.
Coleman was irked by the displays of some of Sunderland’s senior players in that contest.
And the Welsh boss insists that he will not be picking players on reputation at the Stadium of Light.
“Whatever the players have done before, I can only pick a team based on what I see through the week,” he said.
“I look at the players’ mentality and physicality, and of course technically I know what they can do, and I will pick and prepare what I think is the best team.
“I’m not bothered if they have no international caps, 15 caps, or 50, if they’ve played in the Premier League or not, I will pick the team that I think is best ready for the next opposition.
“One or two will be disappointed from week to week, but I like that – it shows that they care.”
Sunderland’s defeat against Reading means that they have slipped back down to 23rd in the Championship table.
Sunderland are currently two points away from safety, with concerns growing that they could suffer back-to-back relegations.
The Black Cats are next in action against top of the table Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, in what looks like another tough clash for Coleman’s side.
Lee Cattermole is just one of a number of Sunderland players who could see their places in the team come under threat.
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