Sunderland predicted line-up to face Blackburn Rovers with key duo missing

Sunderland head to Blackburn Rovers in the Championship tonight.
Sunderland head to Ewood Park to face Tony Mowbray's former club Blackburn Rovers this evening.
It's another tough assignment for the Black Cats, but their recent impressive form sees them go into this one in 8th place of the table, with Blackburn just behind in 10th.
Sunderland beat QPR 3-1 in their last outing whilst Rovers overcame Sunderland's north-east rivals Middlesbrough 2-1 at Ewood Park.
Sunderland team news
Sunderland have a few injuries to contend with here, with Pierre Ekwah (dead leg) and Bradley Dack (hamstring) two fresh injury concerns for Mowbray.
The Sunderland boss confirmed that both are set for a spell on the sidelines after the QPR game, whilst Dennis Cirkin (hamstring) also remains sidelined.
New signing Nazariy Rusyn is yet to be given clearance to feature for the Black Cats.
Predicted line-up
Patterson (GK)
Huggins
Ballard
O'Nien
Hume
Bellingham
Neil
Clarke
Roberts
Ba
Burstow
Mowbray has no direct replacement for Ekwah in the middle of the pitch. But to replace Ekwah's physicality in the middle, Jobe Bellingham might have to drop deeper, with Patrick Roberts likely coming in behind Mason Burstow.
Elsewhere, we should see an unchanged line up from the one that won at QPR last weekend.
Tonight's game kicks off at 7:45pm.
Read more Sunderland news
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- Dan Ballard talks new contract and West Ham interest
- Chris Rigg speaks out after scoring his first Sunderland goal
- Kristjaan Speakman discusses potential financial boost for Sunderland
- EXCLUSIVE: Jack Clarke told he's not leaving Sunderland this summer
- Anthony Patterson assesses Sunderland's top six credentials

Football journalist based in South Yorkshire. Have previously worked for PA Sports and Football League World among other publications. Currently working as the Editor for The72.
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