SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Chris Rigg of Sunderland celebrates scoring the only goal of his team during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland AFC and Middlesbrough FC at Stadium of Light on September 21, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Sunderland predicted XI team and injury news vs Watford as Chris Mepham keeps spot.
Sunderland take on Watford at Vicarage Road in the Championship on Saturday, with Regis Le Bris already facing a selection headache.
Six games into the new season, and Sunderland are steadily emerging as possible promotion hopefuls in the Championship.
Last time out, the Black Cats returned to winning ways after that surprise defeat vs Plymouth Argyle, beating Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Stadium of Light.
It was a positive reaction from Regis Le Bris’ men who currently sit in 2nd place of the Championship table, compared to Watford who are now in 8th.
The Hornets were top of the table after the opening three games. But Tom Cleverley’s side are now winless in their last three in the league, losing 2-1 vs Manchester City in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Sunderland team and injury news v Watford
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Le Bris gave an injury update on Ian Poveda who’s only featured once in the Championship this season; against Portsmouth last month.
Le Bris says that Poveda should be available to play this weekend and that the 24-year-old simply needs a run of games to get going.
Elsewhere, Le Bris suggested that midfielder Alan Browne is 50/50 to feature in the matchday squad after a knee injury kept him out v Middlesbrough.
Defenders Aji Alese, Jenson Seelt, and Niall Huggins remain sidelined, whilst deadline day signings Salis Abdul Samed and Ahmed Abdullahi are still working towards fitness.
Le Bris says Aaron Connolly won’t feature until after the October international break, following his free transfer to Wearside.
Trai Hume is one yellow card away from picking up a suspension.
Sunderland predicted XI v Watford
For Le Bris, nothing really drastic needs to change right now. But he may be worried about how his team react on the road, having lost their last away outing.
The main selection headache for the Frenchman going into this weekend will be at centre-back.
Chris Mepham earned praise for his performance v Middlesbrough and so Le Bris could be inclined to keep him there, and to keep Dan Ballard on the bench, with Ballard having already had a couple of injury worries this summer.
Eliezer Mayenda hasn’t scored since that 4-0 win v Sheffield Wednesday in August and so he could be one who Le Bris considers changing, potentially giving Wilson Isidor his first league start.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will line up v Watford…
