Watford will host Sunderland in the Championship this Saturday, so HITC Sport have taken a look at a combined XI from the two teams – including Hamza Choudhury and Jack Clarke.
The second-tier contest pits two outfits who spent last season two divisions apart, with the Hornets in the Premier League and the Black Cats playing in League One. But Watford fell a tier, while Sunderland finally found their way back into the Championship via the play-offs.
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Little now separates the Vicarage Road and Stadium of Light natives with one point all that keeps the clubs apart. Sunderland have taken 14 from a possible 27 to sit sixth in the early standings. While Watford have 13, having won one fewer times and have two more draws.
Ross Stewart was vital to Sunderland getting their Championship campaign off to a strong start with five goals in seven games. Only Hull City’s Oscar Estupinan (7) and Norwich City’s Josh Sargent (6) have more. But Stewart is likely to miss up to 12 weeks with a thigh injury.
Further injuries have plagued both teams in the early weeks of the second-tier season. But a host of stars have shone to make HITC Sport’s combined Watford and Sunderland XI…
Daniel Bachmann (GK): Watford star pips Sunderland’s Patterson in combined XI
Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann pips Sunderland shot-stopper Anthony Patterson in our combined XI. The Hornets ace and Black Cats star both have three clean sheets so far this season to nine goals allowed, but Bachmann has often been busier between the sticks.
Lynden Gooch (RWB): A lively presence at wing-back for Sunderland this season
Lynden Gooch has enjoyed a strong season at right-wing-back for Sunderland so far, with the 26-year-old offering a goal and an assist over nine appearances. He has also provided leadership at the back, alongside charging runs up the wing and delivering teasing crosses.
Danny Batth (CB): An imposing presence in Sunderland defence
Danny Batth has been an imposing presence in Sunderland’s defence so far this season. He will now head to Watford at the weekend in top form, too, after a commanding display as the Black Cats beat Reading 3-0 on Wednesday, dominating his physical battle at the back.
Francisco Sierralta (CB): Chilean bouncing back from frustration with Watford
Francisco Sierralta is bouncing back in the best way possible after a frustrating end to last season at Watford. He admitted, via the Watford Observer, in July that it ‘wasn’t easy’ to have not played since January, but has dealt with danger with ease in the Championship.
Dennis Cirkin (CB): Sunderland star is set to miss Watford trip with injury
Dennis Cirkin missed his first game of the Championship season so far at Reading after he picked up a hamstring injury against Middlesbrough. The Sunderland star is now set to sit out his side’s trip to Watford, in a big blow for the Black Cats after a key role in their unit.
Jack Clarke (LWB): Attacker proving his worth since permanent Sunderland move
Jack Clarke is proving his worth at left-wing-back since completing a permanent transfer to Sunderland from Tottenham Hotspur in July. His pace and attacking pedigree has seen the 21-year-old hit three goals and three assists in nine games, with dangerous skill on the ball.
Daniel Neil (CM): Sunderland product stepping up to Championship task
Daniel Neil has more than shown he can step up to the task of Championship football after his breakthrough at Sunderland in League One last season. The 20-year-old’s passing range and endless will to run has been key to his side’s efforts, while also battling to win the ball.
Hamza Choudhury (CM): Leicester loanee proving a shrewd late addition
Watford secured a late loan deal with Leicester City to hire Hamza Choudhury for a season in August. The Hornet’s move has proven a shrewd choice with the 24-year-old adding his steel to their engine room, constantly getting stuck in as a mainstay of Rod Edward’s plans.
Alex Pritchard (CAM): Pulling the strings for Sunderland in the Championship
Alex Pritchard features in the attacking midfield slot of HITC Sport’s combined Sunderland and Watford XI. He has pulled the strings for the Black Cats since their promotion back into the Championship, even though the 29-year-old only has two assists over his nine outings.
Ross Stewart (ST): Among Championship top-scorers before injury blow
Stewart is an obvious choice for a combined XI of Sunderland and Watford players after his strong start to the season. Tony Mowbray will rue not having the forward at Vicarage Road on Saturday, given his side heads to Hertfordshire with Stewart still among the top scorers.
Joao Pedro (ST): Watford will revel in rebuffing Newcastle summer interest
Watford will revel in rebuffing interest from Newcastle United this summer after the start to the season that Joao Pedro has produced. The Athletic report the Toon backed away in response to the Hornets turning down a £25m bid, with a further £5m on offer in add-ons.
A chance to stay in the Premier League with Newcastle does not appear to have distracted Pedro so far. The 20-year-old has offered a versatile threat in the Hornets’ frontline with a hand in four goals – two scored, two assisted – over his eight appearances under Edwards.
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