Confirm Sunderland’s starting lineup against Middlesbrough consists of Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien…

Sunderland’s starting lineup against Middlesbrough consists of Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Hjelde, Neil, Ekwah, Ba, Bellingham, Clarke, and Burstow.

On the other hand, the substitutes for Sunderland are Bishop, Seelt, Pembele, Roberts, Aouchiche, Kelly, Mundle, Rusyn, and Hemir. The highly anticipated Tees-Wear Derby between Boro and Sunderland will take place today at 12 pm, with Michael Carrick and Michael Beale leading their respective teams from the dugout.

Boro will have to adjust to life without Morgan Rogers, while Leo Hjelde will make his debut for Sunderland. As for score predictions, it’s anyone’s guess. This match is crucial for Sunderland as they aim to gain momentum for the Championship run-in and secure a spot in the playoffs. However, their poor record at Middlesbrough in recent times poses a challenge.

Michael Beale finds himself in a position where he has several viable options to consider for the starting line-up at the Riverside. Let’s attempt to predict what that line-up might look like.

Sunderland’s predicted line-up against Middlesbrough will likely follow a 4-3-3 formation. Here is a possible selection:

Version 1:

GK: Anthony Patterson – There is no need to make any changes in goal, as Patterson has been performing well. Additionally, there isn’t much quality behind him in the pecking order.

RB: Trai Hume – Hume has been filling in at left-back recently, but Beale has expressed his desire to have him back on his natural side of the pitch.

CB: Luke O’Nien – Both of Sunderland’s previous coaches have rated O’Nien highly, and it’s unlikely that Beale would drop such an experienced player, especially for a derby match.

CB: Dan Ballard – Although Ballard is one yellow card away from a suspension, his place in the team is secure until that happens.

LB: Leo Hjelde – Beale values balance and expects his full-backs to contribute in attack. With Hjelde being the only available left-back, it’s highly likely that he will make his debut in this match.

CM: Pierre Ekwah – Ekwah scored a goal against Stoke and seems more comfortable playing further forward.

CM: Dan Neil – Neil has shown that he is well-suited to a deeper holding role and performed admirably in that position last week.

CM: Jobe Bellingham – If Bellingham is fit, he is almost certain to be in the starting line-up, based on his performances this season.

RW: Abdoullah Ba – Ba had an outstanding performance against Stoke, contributing with a goal and two assists. Although Patrick Roberts is available, Ba deserves to retain his place.

CF: Mason Burstow – Burstow scored his first goal last week and displayed promising moments. He should be given the opportunity to continue his progress.

LW: Jack Clarke – Sunderland will rely on Clarke, their star player, to deliver another standout performance if they hope to secure any points at the Riverside.

This predicted line-up takes into account the current form, player preferences, and the importance of the match.