Championship team news as Stoke City prepare to meet Sunderland at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke City is conducting final evaluations on a group of returning players as they prepare to resume play following the international break. Before the two-week gap, injuries had significantly depleted Alex Neil’s squad, but this break has allowed several players, including their top scorer Andre Vidigal, to regain their form. Although Ben Wilmot, Lewis Baker, and Tyrese Campbell are still sidelined, the team’s changing room is now much healthier as they approach another hectic schedule. Players like Ryan Mmaee, Michael Rose, Lynden Gooch, and Ki-Jana Hoever are all eager to make a return to the match day squad. Additionally, Ciaran Clark, who recently joined as a free agent, has been steadily improving his fitness.
Sunderland, too, is assessing their players before their upcoming matches. Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard, and Bradley Dack are hoping to convince Tony Mowbray that they are fit for consideration. Unfortunately, Dan Neil is suspended, Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda will be unavailable, and there are doubts about Dan Ballard’s availability after he sustained an injury while on duty with Northern Ireland.
What Alex Neil has said about Sunderland
“I think that coming up from League One last year, I thought they were riding on the crest of a wave, and they’ve got a team that’s largely played together and functioned together for a bit of time now,” Neil remarked at his pre-match press conference. They’ve signed a lot of players, but strangely, not many of them have made it into the first squad, which I believe demonstrates how well the team is performing.
“They’re young, which allows them to play with little fear, and they’re dangerous.” They have people who can hurt you, as has been demonstrated this season.”
What Tony Mowbray has said about Stoke
“Obviously, we had a poor result against them last season, and I think we need to put that one in the bin and move on,” Mowbray remarked. This is merely the next challenge.
“Stoke are a very intense and well-organized football team.” But it’s all about us and if we can impose our game style on the opposition, whomever they are. That’s what we’ll strive to do this weekend.”
Your Stoke City selection
We’ve been running a Stoke City selector gadget and asking you to put yourself in Neil’s shoes for the previous few days.
So far, the popular vote sees Stoke playing a 4-3-3 formation with Mark Travers in goal and a back four of Junior Tchamadeu, Enda Stevens, Luke McNally, and Michael Rose. Wouter Burger, Ben Pearson, and Josh Laurent play in midfield, while Sead Haksabanovic, Ryan Mmaee, and Andre Vidigal play up front.
Match day trivia
No player in the Championship has scored more goals this season than Sunderland’s former Stoke winger Jack Clarke (seven). The 22-year-old also leads the division in ball carry distance (3,706m) and take-ons after a ball carry (38), which Opta interprets as his ability to score and dribble.
The referee
The whistle is blown at the bet365 Stadium by Graham Scott, who oversaw Stoke’s Carabao Cup match against Bournemouth. He last officiated a Sunderland game in 2016/17.
Minute’s silence and black armbands
“Stoke City and Sunderland have decided to pay tribute to the innocent victims of the ongoing and tragic events in Israel and Palestine by observing a minute of silence before their match. Both Premier League and EFL clubs will also wear black armbands.
According to a statement from the EFL, in light of the distressing and heartbreaking occurrences in Israel and Palestine, their collective thoughts are with the innocent individuals who have lost their lives, along with their families, friends, and all those in communities affected by the escalating conflict.
The EFL expresses the hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the current humanitarian crisis. They will also be contributing to the emergency appeal of their charity partner, the British Red Cross, to provide support for the international relief efforts assisting those in dire need across the region.”
