Sunderland head to Stoke as they look for their first Premier League win of the season.
It has been a miserable start to the season for Sunderland, and the international break was hardly fruitful for the Black Cats, with Jason Denayer joining a lengthy injury list.
With the break now over and the Premier League set to return, David Moyes needs to prepare his side for the trip to Stoke, as he looks for his first league win with Sunderland at the eighth time of asking.
Could this be the team Moyes picks to finally win three points?
Having hooked up with the England senior squad for the first time, Jordan Pickford will be back in between the Sunderland sticks.
Despite an injury to centre-back Jason Denayer, manager Moyes could still opt for a back three, with Papy Djilobodji replacing the Belgian. The summer signing could line up alongside John O’Shea and Lamine Kone as part of the back three.
Width will be supplied by wing-backs in the shape of Patrick van Aanholt and Javi Manquillo. The shape suited the Dutchman in the 1-1 draw against West Brom, and it could allow Moyes to get the best out of his number three.
While the system might not be best suited for Manquillo, the positives it should add to Van Aanholt’s performance means it is a risk worth taking.
Star player Didier Ndong will start in the centre of midfield, and will either be joined by Paddy McNair or Jack Rodwell. The Northern Irishman should get the nod, having started the previous game in place of Lee Cattermole.
In an attacking midfield role will be Duncan Watmore, who scored in England Under-21s 5-0 win over Bosnia, and will be hoping he can pick up where he left off last time, setting up Sunderland’s equaliser against the Baggies.
Wahbi Khazri returned to the starting line up before the international break, and showed why he should have been involved more. The Tunisian will need to be the Black Cats’ creative force, and get as close to striker Jermain Defoe as possible.
The 3-5-2 formation could be a risk for Moyes, but it is one worth taking as he searches for his first Premier League win of the season.
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