MIKE DODDS has made two changes to his Sunderland side for this evening’s home game with Leicester City – and is also set to enact a major switch of formation.
Having played with a flat back four in both matches of his latest interim spell in charge, Dodds is set to switch to a 3-5-2 system this evening.
Dan Ballard returns from suspension, having missed the last two matches, and is expected to play in the backline alongside Luke O’Nien and Jenson Seelt.
Trai Hume and Leo Hjelde are set to play as wing-backs, with Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah filling the central-midfield positions alongside Chris Rigg.
Luis Hemir retains his place in attack, with Jobe Bellingham also expected to play in a forward position, with Romain Mundle and Callum Styles dropping out of the side that started at Carrow Road.
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca has made four changes, with former Sunderland centre-half Callum Doyle returning to the Foxes’ side along with veteran striker Jamie Vardy.
SUNDERLAND (3-5-2): Patterson; Seelt, Ballard, O’Nien; Hume, Rigg, Neil, Ekwah, Hjelde; Bellingham, Hemir.
Subs: Bishop (gk), Pembele, Burstow, Mundle, Rusyn, Ba, Aouchiche, Styles, Kelly.
LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Choudhury, Coady, Faes, Doyle; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Mavididi, Akgun, Fatawu; Vardy.
Subs: Stolarczyk (gk), Justin, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Souttar, Daka, Ndidi, Marcal, Nelson.
