Chris Rigg to start as one of four changes? Sunderland predicted line-up vs Leicester
Sunderland are in a bit of a pickle. Out of form, four-match losing run, best player injured, and league leaders Leicester next up.
Leicester are not in the best of form themselves to be fair, and maybe Sunderland are in ‘free swing’ territory here having dropped out of the promotion race of late.
Let’s have a go at trying to predict the side that Mike Dodds will put out.
Sunderland predicted line-up vs Leicester (4-3-3)
GK: Anthony Patterson – Still looking a little shaky, but no pressure on his position.
RB: Trai Hume – One booking away from a suspension and probably needs a good game after a rocky couple of weeks.
CB: Luke O’Nien – Jenson Seelt had his chance to stake a claim to replace O’Nien, and he really didn’t take it.
CB: Dan Ballard – Back from suspension and his return to the side a total no-brainer.
LB: Leo Hjelde – Still trying to figure Hjelde out but no other left-back option right now.
CM: Dan Neil – Sunderland’s best midfield player by far and the only one really putting in consistent performances.
CM: Chris Rigg – Surely time to start Rigg? He has looked absolute quality of late.
CM – Pierre Ekwah – If Rigg is to get a start, then it will have to be Ekwah or Jobe to make way. It’s hard to imagine Sunderland dropping Jobe no matter what, but they should certainly give him a breather for his own good so Ekwah should keep his place.
RW: Callum Styles – The coaching staff clearly really like him, even if the rest of us are still waiting to see the best of him.
CF: Nazariy Rusyn – With the constantly forward-thinking Rigg in the midfield, Rusyn becomes a very attractive option. Leicester will leave space in the channels and if Rigg can release him, Rusyn can hurt them.
LW: Abdoullah Ba – Get the feeling that Ba and Mundle will rotate a bit in the absence of Jack Clarke. Mundle didn’t do much last week, so Ba may get the nod for this one.