We couldn’t have asked for too much more from the start of the season, and Regis Le Bris has seemingly put in a lot of work over the international break with the players who weren’t away on international duty, at least. Wilson Isidor came on at Portsmouth and impressed, while we’ll also likely see Chris Mepham added to the 18 today, as well as Milan Aleksic and Dan Neil, who’s back from suspension.
And it’s Neil who I think provides Le Bris with his biggest selection dilemma today. Will he come straight back into the team today, or will he have to bide his time, given the performances of Rigg, Jobe and Browne? Here’s what I reckon we’ll do today.
Goalkeeper: Anthony Patterson
It seemed somewhat fitting that it was an own goal with the game already sewn up that provided the only blot on Patterson’s copybook this season. He’s not had much at all to do yet this season, which is a testament to the defence in front of him.
Sunderland v Burnley – Sky Bet Championship – Stadium of Light
Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images
Defence: Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien, Dennis Cirkin
Chris Mepham’s signing’s a really interesting one, and he’s come here expecting to play. He’s fit – he played for Wales over the break – and will certainly be involved. Will he start? It’d be incredibly harsh on whoever dropped out if he did, and I just don’t think you can make any sort of a case to leave out an of the four who started at Portsmouth – so same again here for me.
Sunderland v Burnley – Sky Bet Championship – Stadium of Light
Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images
Midfield: Jobe, Alan Browne, Chris Rigg
The biggest question today is whether Dan Neil comes back in. Well, actually, a bigger question is who on earth would you leave out? Jobe did brilliantly in a slightly deeper role last week, I really like Alan Browne, and then there’s Chris Rigg, who I just want to watch, and watch and watch. There’s an argument to leave Rigg out given he was away on international duty, but if he’s fit you surely can’t take him out. I reckon it’ll be Neil who sits out – which may not be the worst lesson in the world for him. With Aleksic and Samed waiting in the wings, too, competition for a midfield place is hot.
Sunderland v Burnley – Sky Bet Championship – Stadium of Light
Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images
Attack: Patrick Roberts, Eliezer Mayenda, Romaine Mundle
I was a bit critical of Mayenda after the Burnley game – but he turned in a cracking centre-forward display that should ensure he keeps his place leading the line today. Roberts and Mundle (who was excellent again against Portsmouth) will keep their places either side of him, but the three of them know that with Isidor, Poveda and Watson breathing down their necks, there is little margin for error.
Portsmouth FC v Sunderland AFC – Sky Bet Championship
