Sunderland v Shrewsbury Town
Tuesday 24 August
EFL Cup
Stadium of Light
1.30pm
Shrewsbury Town
Goalkeepers: Jayson Leutwiler has started all five of Shrewsbury Town’s competitive games during the 2016-17 season. Signing from Middlesbrough in 2014, the former Switzerland under-21 ‘keeper started his career with FC Basel but after failing to make a first-team appearance, and featuring on loan for four clubs, he moved to Teesside in 2012. During a two-year spell with Boro he made three league appearances before moving to Shrewsbury where he has since cemented his position as the club’s number one and helped fire them to promotion in 2015.
Defence: Summer signing Joe Riley has made five appearances alongside Ryan McGivern in the Shrews’ defence. Riley, 24, joined from Bury in the summer with Northern Ireland international McGivern also signing as a summer recruit from Port Vale. Junior Brown has also featured prominently as has Adam El-Abd, with Olly Lancashire also appearing for the Shrews.
Midfield: Louis Dodds has played a big role following his summer move from Port Vale featuring in all five games and scoring one goal. The midfielder made over 300 appearances during an eight-year spell at Vale Park, previously featuring for Rochdale and Lincoln City on loan during his time as a youngster with Leicester City. Like Dodds, Jim O’Brien also moved to the New Meadow in the summer and he’s also featured prominently, with Antoni Sarcevic, Ian Black and Gary Deegan among those selected. On loan from Stoke City, Moha El Ouriachi will also be out to impress.
Attack: Ivan Toney will be a name familiar to some Sunderland fans and the on-loan Newcastle United man will be desperate to feature when Shrewsbury travel to the Stadium of Light. The 20-year-old signed for the Magpies last year but spent time on loan with Barnsley where he won the Football League trophy and the League One play-offs. Toney will be competing for a starting place with AJ Leitch-Smith, who top scored for Port Vale last season, Andy Mangan, George Wearing – on loan from Stoke – and youngster Ethan Jones.
Manager: Shrewsbury Town are managed by former West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool and Burnley midfielder Micky Mellon. The 44-year-old represented the Baggies, the Tangerines and the Clarets during a playing career which spanned 17 years, as well as turning out for the likes of Bristol City and Tranmere Rovers among others. His first foray into management came in 2008 and it was a successful one as he guided Fleetwood Town from the Conference North and to the Football League, before he briefly took charge of Barnsley in a caretaker capacity following Keith Hill’s dismissal. In May 2014 he became manager of Shrewsbury and he sealed automatic promotion during his first season in charge, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation last year.
Team news
Sunderland
Vito Mannone (elbow), Seb Larsson (knee), Lee Cattermole (hernia), Billy Jones (hip), Jan Kirchhoff (hamstring), John O’Shea (groin) and Lamine Kone (back) are out.
Fabio Borini is a doubt.
Shrewsbury Town
Shaun Whalley is the visitors' only absentee.
Last time out
Sunderland 1-2 Middlesbrough
Sunderland produced a tireless display in their opening home game of the 2016-17 season but it proved to be in vain as Middlesbrough secured a narrow Wear-Tees win.
A bright start was soon dispelled for the Black Cats as Christian Stuani’s screamer silenced the Stadium of Light, with John O’Shea forced off after just 37 minutes to add to the Lads’ injury woes.
Stuani added his second on the stroke of half-time as a well-worked goal put the visitors firmly in control, but the introduction of Jeremain Lens and the grit of Lynden Gooch and Steven Pienaar ensured this was a game that was far from over.
Patrick van Aanholt finally found a way through on 71 minutes as Sunderland laid siege to the Boro backline, but it wasn’t to be and the visitors clung on to ensure the Black Cats are pointless after two games.
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Chesterfield
Skipper Adam El-Abd headed a late winner as Shrewsbury beat Chesterfield 2-1 to pick up their first League One win of the season.
The hosts started well, with on-loan Stoke winger Moha Choulay's fine run and pass setting up an early chance for Ivan Toney which the striker fired wide of the near post.
But Chesterfield struck first when Jay O'Shea drove confidently home from 15 yards in the 14th minute, with Shrewsbury responding well and Junior Brown levelling on 24 minutes.
Both sides had chances to take the lead but El-Abd made the difference with six minutes remaining.
Form
Sunderland: LL
Shrewsbury Town: LWDLW