Sunderland are once again back on the grass at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night, as Blackpool visit Wearside in the Sky Bet Championship (KO 7:45pm).
The Lads sit eighth in the league table after 11 matches, having taken 16 points to the Seasiders’ 11 points in 19th place.
Team news
Tony Mowbray confirmed in Monday morning’s press conference that Dennis Cirkin is now ready to return to the matchday squad, and “should be on the bench” according to the Head Coach.
Elliot Embleton could retain his place to line up against the side with whom he earned promotion to the Championship in 2021, but reunited teammates Ellis Simms and Dan Ballard will both remain absent.
Ross Stewart and Niall Huggins are still ruled out as they continue their respective comebacks.
Opposition
Blackpool are now into their second consecutive Championship season, as they seek a full return through the English leagues following a drop from the Premier League to League Two between 2011 and 2016.
The club soared into the second tier after a superb run in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign to eventually triumph in the League One Play-Offs – a feat repeated by the Lads the following year. Sunderland’s Embleton, Ballard and Simms were all part of the Lancashire side’s promotion-winning squad.
Despite losing four of their last five in the league, Blackpool – now under stewardship of Michael Appleton for a second time – will look to improve upon last term’s consolidation which resulted in a 16th-place finish.
Around the grounds (Tuesday 7:45pm unless stated)
Luton vs Huddersfield
Bristol City vs Coventry
Sheffield United vs QPR
Reading vs Norwich (8pm)
Cardiff vs Blackburn (8pm)
Rotherham vs Millwall (Wed 7:45pm)
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham (Wed 7:45pm)
Hull vs Wigan (Wed 7:45pm)
Burnley vs Stoke (Wed 7:45pm)
Watford vs Swansea (Wed 7:45pm)
Preston vs West Brom (Wed 8pm)
Tickets & coverage
Tickets for Sunderland’s meeting with Blackpool are available by visiting the e-ticketing site on safc.com.
Streaming passes will be available to all supporters at a cost of £10 through safc.com’s SAFSee platform. Audio commentary will also be available.
Social media coverage will take place as usual via the club’s official pages on Twitter @SunderlandAFC, and Instagram @sunderlandafcofficial.