Sunderland face Burnley at Turf Moor on New Year’s Eve as the curtain falls on 2016.
It’s been a dramatic year for the Black Cats who completed a great escape under Sam Allardyce before England came calling, with David Moyes installed as the club’s new manager on the horizon of the 2016-17 season.
An understandably tough start to the campaign followed but as time progressed the Scot has guided Sunderland up the Premier League table, with victory at Turf Moor potentially enough to see the Black Cats enter 2017 out of the bottom three.
On Boxing Day, the Lads faced Manchester United and they were beaten at Old Trafford despite putting in what was a positive performance overall.
Their resilience lasted until the 39th minute as Daley Blind broke the deadlock, with superstars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan making it 3-0 before Fabio Borini’s wonder goal provided a late consolation.
Burnley, meanwhile, continued their stunning form at Turf Moor with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough as a Victor Valdes error gifted Andre Gray his second goal of the campaign.
Victory for Sean Dyche’s men saw them move onto 20 points in the Premier League – six more than Sunderland – and 19 of those have come at home.
The Clarets are sweating over the fitness of Dean Marney who limped off against Boro, and they will also be without key midfielder Jeff Hendrick due to suspension.
Sunderland will also be forced into changes after receiving news that Jordan Pickford will miss up to eight weeks after suffering a knee injury at Old Trafford.
Vito Mannone will come into the side for the first time since August and the Black Cats will once again be without Jan Kirchhoff, Lee Cattermole, Paddy McNair, Duncan Watmore and Lynden Gooch.
Javier Manquillo, Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar have returned to training although it is unclear if they will be ready to feature.
The Black Cats have only lost once to the Clarets in the Premier League and that defeat came way back in 2009, with Burnley winning just one of the last 18 meetings between the sides.
Long may that record continue.
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 be ON AIR at Turf Moor from 2pm.