No room for Eliezer Mayenda – Who makes it into combined Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley XI?
Sunderland, Leeds United and Burnley have each been busy in the transfer window in an attempt to stay in the Premier League this season.
While Sunderland have recruited particularly well this summer, it is also important to take note of the business done by the other two promoted clubs, given the fact that all three are among the favourites to go down.
Whoever stays up will have to break the trend set by the last six promoted clubs, and both Sunderland and Leeds have given themselves a good start with wins on the opening weekend.
Sunderland face Burnley on Saturday in a clash that will ultimately determine which side is more suited for the Premier League, as Mackem News takes a look at who would feature in a combined 11 for all three sides.
Kyle Walker misses out, Dan Ballard features
Robin Roefs has already impressed for Sunderland, but it’s Leeds’ Lucas Perri who gets the nod in goal as of right now.
Perri was instrumental throughout his time at Lyon and is no doubt a significant upgrade on Illan Meslier.
Three Sunderland players make the defensive line, with Burnley’s Maxim Esteve partnering Dan Ballard in the heart of defence.
Reinildo features at left-back, while Trai Hume marginally gets in over Jayden Bogle, who had an excellent campaign in the Championship.
| Championship | Games | Goals | Assists | Duels won |
| Trai Hume | 48 | 3 | 6 | 259 |
| Jayden Bogle | 46 | 6 | 4 | 248 |
Kyle Walker misses out, while the likes of Joe Rodon and Jaka Bijol also don’t feature.
Granit Xhaka is the first name on the teamsheet for Sunderland, and he is certainly the first name on the teamsheet for a combined 11, with Habib Diarra and Anton Stach alongside him.
Stach has already made a huge impression at Elland Road, while Diarra left Wayne Rooney in awe after his display against West Ham.
Enzo Le Fee is a remarkably talented player, but he misses out on the starting 11.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the line after Leeds transfer
Simon Adingra looks to be a shrewd piece of business by the Black Cats, while Sunderland-linked Marcus Edwards features on the opposite flank.
Leeds and Sunderland have several attacking options as a result of their summer business, while Burnley’s leave a lot to be desired.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is perhaps a shock inclusion given his recent record, though he is the only forward from the three promoted clubs who has spent the majority of his career in the Premier League.
Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda both got off to a scoring start in Sunderland’s win against West Ham, and may prove to be far more effective in the long run, but as of right now, it is a tough call to make.
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