Sunderland’s Premier League season continues on Saturday with a trip to AFC Bournemouth (KO 3pm).
With the November international break looming on the horizon, the Black Cats will be determined to register a first top-flight win of the campaign against a Bournemouth side who have been sensational at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries have picked up 12 points from their opening 10 games, with 10 of those coming at home where Eddie Howe’s side have lost just one of five games.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have picked up a single point on the road – a 1-1 draw at Southampton – and with a crucial home tie against Hull City following the break momentum is key.
Vito Mannone, Lee Cattermole and Seb Larsson could be back to face the Tigers after returning to training, but they won’t feature when the Black Cats travel to the south coast.
Captain John O’Shea will also miss out after limping off in last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Papy Djilobodji is expected to replace the Republic of Ireland international and the Cherries will also be forced into changes with Andrew Surman ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Dan Gosling is expected to be called into the side by Howe who will also be without Brad Smith, Lee Cook and Marc Pugh.
Josh King and Junior Stanislas should be fit for duty.
The last meeting between the two sides came in December 2015 as goals from Benik Afobe and Patrick van Aanholt ensured a stalemate on Wearside.
The reverse fixture came four months earlier as the Cherries blew the Black Cats away early on to seal a 2-0 win, but it is the Cherries’ only victory over the Wearsiders to date.
OTHER INFO
Ticket information for Saturday’s game is available by clicking here.
If you can’t make the game, then don’t fear because we have every base covered with extensive coverage on safc.com and on Twitter by following @SunderlandAFC.
Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett will also be LIVE on safc.com from 2pm.
