Sunderland host West Brom in the Premier League as they look for their first three points of the campaign.
After seeing his side collapse against Crystal Palace, David Moyes now has even more problems to contend with at Sunderland.
With his side bottom of the Premier League, the Scot has three new injuries to deal with which will have hindered his preparations for the clash with West Brom.
Adnan Januzaj, Steven Pienaar, Victor Anichebe and Lee Cattermole are now all ruled out due to injury, so how will Sunderland line up against the Baggies?
Sunderland’s most consistent performer as of late has been goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and he will be hoping for a steelier defence in front of him this week.
Moyes may stick with his summer signing Papy Djilobodji at the centre of defence, but John O’Shea should really be considered to start in his place alongside Lamine Kone, bringing more experience to the Black Cats back four.
The full backs should remain the same, despite Patrick Van Aanholt’s poor showing against Palace, and Javi Manquillo’s silly foul which cost Sunderland the game.
With Cattermole out injured, Paddy McNair should come in to the middle, joining Jan Kirchhoff and Didier Ndong, with whom who he played in the EFL Cup game against QPR, where McNair scored twice to win the game for Sunderland.
Injuries to Pienaar and Januzaj will mean Moyes needs to pick two new wide players for the game at the Stadium of Light, which could give Wahbi Khazri the chance to start his first Premier League game of the season. Duncan Watmore should start on the other flank, coming on as an early sub against Palace when Pienaar went off injured.
Jermain Defoe will be the lone striker once again, and he too will be hoping that the defence can do their bit, after his goals last week still weren’t enough to give Sunderland their first league win of the season.
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