Sunderland will face their penultimate pre-season test on Wednesday evening when they travel to Glanford Park to take on Scunthorpe United (7.30pm).
Simon Grayson’s side enter the match with momentum having picked up two wins on the bounce, and the Black Cats boss will be hoping to have further options available against the Iron...
PENULTIMATE TEST
The Sky Bet Championship season is just over a week away with Sunderland set to host Derby County in just nine days. A summer of change has seen a number of players depart with others coming through the door, as new manager Grayson shapes his side ahead of the upcoming campaign. James Vaughan is likely to lead the line once more and the striker will be hoping to open his account ahead of the new season, but it remains to be seen if Josh Maja features after limping off in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Bradford City. The youngster has found the net in each of his last two games, with a penalty at Victoria Park preceding his fourth strike of pre-season.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Scunthorpe manager Graham Alexander is likely to field his strongest starting XI on Wednesday, with the Scunthorpe manager expecting his players to play at least 70 minutes. Luke Williams, Lewis Butroid and Sam Mantom will miss out, but new signing Funso Ojo is expected to feature after impressing during the Iron’s pre-season tour of Austria. Wednesday’s game will be Scunthorpe’s sixth outing so far and they’ve tasted defeat on just one occasion – a 4-0 loss at Grimsby Town – having beaten North Ferriby United, SK Strobl and SV Austria Salzburg, with the latter two ending in 6-0 victories.
MCGEADY DEBUT
Sunderland fans will be hoping to catch a glimpse of Aiden McGeady at Glanford Park, with the winger yet to make his debut in red and white. The 31-year-old signed on the dotted line just under two weeks ago, but after building his fitness on Wearside as his team-mates played north of the border, he suffered a slight injury and was ruled out of last week’s games against Hartlepool and Bradford. But speaking after that win at Valley Parade, Grayson revealed that he hopes to have McGeady available against the Iron. And it would appear likely after the Republic of Ireland international trained alongside his team-mates at the AoL ahead of the game.
SOL RETURN ON THE HORIZON
Following this Wednesday’s game at Glanford Park, just 48 hours will stand between the Black Cats and a return to the Stadium of Light with Celtic preparing to travel to Wearside. The clash against Brendan Rodgers’ side will mark the final test before next week’s league opener against Derby County, with all eyes on Grayson’s men as they put the final touches to their pre-season preparations. And places are still up for grabs not only in the matchday squad against the Rams but perhaps the starting XI, so the next two games are likely to shape the manager’s plans for opening day.
