Régis Le Bris's Sunderland starting XI and likely subs to face Preston North End - predicted XI gallery
Sunderland are set to face Preston North End at the Stadium of Light on Saturday lunchtime looking to make it three wins from their opening three league games under new head coach Tony Mowbray.
The Black Cats have made a strong start under the former Blackburn and Celtic boss, beating Millwall, Bristol City and Cardiff to sit top of the Championship table, with Jewison Bennette scoring an injury-time winner at the Cardiff City Stadium last weekend.
Mowbray is set to make changes to his starting XI for the clash with Ryan Lowe's Preston, with the likes of Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese and Leon Dajaku hoping to feature following their returns from injury.
Lynden Gooch is likely to miss out again due to a knock, while Jack Clarke is still suspended following his red card against Millwall.
Here is our predicted Sunderland XI to face Preston:
- Patterson
- Wright
- Batth
- Alese
- Cirkin
- Evans
- Neil
- Embleton
- Pritchard
- Bennette
- Stewart
And here are the likely substitutes:
- Bass
- Flanagan
- Dajaku
- Mbunga-Kimpioka
- Michut
- Roberts
- Ekwah
Mowbray will be hoping that his side can continue their good form and make it four wins from four against Preston, who have also made a positive start to the season under Lowe.