Sunderland predicted line-up vs Bristol City: Midfield duo set to return?

What side might Tony Mowbray pick when Sunderland face Bristol City at the Stadium of Light?

Tony Mowbray will once again rotate his side against Bristol City as Sunderland look for three league wins in a row for the first time this season.

Mowbray rested Edouard Michut completely and dropped Amad Diallo and Dan Neil to the bench in Sunderland’s 3-0 win over QPR in midweek.

Lynden Gooch and Niall Huggins are nearing a return from injury with Mowbray confirming Huggins is back on grass with Gooch ‘a few weeks away’.

Ross Stewart, Corry Evans, and Elliot Embleton are the other player’s that remain on the treatment table.

Sunderland currently sit fifth in the table, two points off fourth placed Luton whilst Bristol City are 16th, seven points off the Championships play-offs.

Predicted Sunderland line-up vs Bristol City (4-2-3-1)

GK: Anthony Patterson – Brilliant penalty save against QPR to keep his 10th clean sheet of the season.

RB: Trai Hume – Huggins and Gooch are nearing returns to first team action but even once they’re back it may be difficult to knock the impressive Hume out of the side.

CB: Dan Ballard – Sunderland have kept three clean sheets in their last four league games and that’s mainly down to the partnership between Ballard and Batth.

CB: Danny Batth – Mentioned above, the centre back duo have been solid together and Sunderland have only lost once this season when the pair have played as a unit.

LB: Dennis Cirkin – Returned from his concussion on Tuesday against QPR as he replaced Alese after 81 minutes. Alese may be due a rest. 

CM: Dan Neil – Was rested during the week but still saw 20 minutes of action as he replaced Pritchard in the 69th minute.

CM: Edouard Michut – Will be the freshest of the midfielders available due to being rested midweek.

RM: Patrick Roberts – Hard to imagine a Sunderland side that doesn’t have Roberts in it right now.

CAM: Amad Diallo – Replaced Ba after 62 minutes and set up Clarke on 82 minutes, also should have had a goal of his own.

LM: Jack Clarke – Added another two goals to his tally for the season against QPR and seems to be the one to step up in Stewart’s absence.

ST: Joe Gelhardt – Came close to opening his Sunderland account when he struck the bar on Tuesday night.

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