Sunderland return to the Stadium of Light to face Southend United this weekend.
Jack Ross’s Sunderland return to the Stadium of Light on Saturday as they welcome Chris Powell’s Southend United for their 15th match in League One.
The Black Cats have found their feet in the third tier and the promotion hopefuls are now on a three-game winning streak, sitting just five points off the top with a game in hand.
A recent 1-0 win away to Doncaster Rovers in midweek was paired with a wonderful team display, and 42-year-old Ross could be keen to field an unchanged side this weekend.
Sunderland, who sit third in the table, were without their talisman Josh Maja for their trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, and suggestions have been made that the man with nine goals this term could only make the bench against Southend.
Maja was out with an ankle problem and fans were worried the 19-year-old would be a noticeable miss. But loanee Jerome Sinclair filled the void nicely and worked tirelessly throughout against Rovers on Tuesday evening.
One player returning to the side this weekend will be Costa Rican international Bryan Oviedo, who was sent off in Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Peterborough United earlier this month.
Despite Oviedo impressing in patches this term, it will be hard for Ross to leave out the in-form Reece James at full-back, who has been part of the side that has kept back-to-back clean sheets in the league.
Fan favourite Chris Maguire will be the first name on the team sheet this weekend after grabbing the winner in mid-week, and the former Bury man’s performances continue to win the hearts of the Wearside faithful.
Below is how we predict Sunderland manager Jack Ross will set his side up this weekend, with an unchanged line-up on their return to the Stadium of Light against Southend United.
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