Jack Ross hints at five players who’ll start for Sunderland this evening

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Sunderland are set to take on Stoke City in the Checkatrade Trophy this evening.

Jack Ross has hinted to the Sunderland Echo that Sunderland could make changes for their Checkatrade Trophy match against Stoke City’s under-23 side tonight.

Sunderland are set to play in the competition which is exclusively for League One and Two sides this evening.

Some lower league teams’ interest in the Checkatrade Trophy has dwindled in recent times, with many naming weakened line-ups.

But Ross insists that Sunderland want to progress in the competition and although he is intending to make changes, he wants to ensure the Black Cats still have a strong squad out.

And the Black Cats boss has suggested that Alim Ozturk, Charlie Wyke, Tom Flanagan, Reece James and Dylan McGeouch could all be given starting roles.

“We’ll make a lot of changes but we’ll be strong. Charlie, Tom, Dylan, Reece, Alim – guys like that will probably need more game-time so we’ll look at that,” Ross said.

“It’s silverware, it’s an opportunity to get to the national stadium. It’s a sponsored tournament, there’s all these different reasons.”

Sunderland go into the contest as favourites to get the victory, after a solid start to the season.

The Black Cats have competed well in League One, and are already in among the front runners at the top of the table.