Sunderland vs Huddersfield preview: Team news, likely lineups, scoreline prediction
Sunderland are out to return to winning ways when they host Huddersfield Town in round two of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Sunderland suffered a 2-0 defeat to Burnley on Saturday but the Black Cats have the opportunity to bounce straight back when League One outfit Huddersfield make the trip to Wearside.
Regis Le Bris is expected to rotate his team against a Huddersfield side who have enjoyed a brilliant start to their League One season.
The Terriers knocked out Leicester in the first round, and could prove to be a stern test for Sunderland.
Form guide (including pre-season)
Sunderland: LWLWL
Huddersfield: WWLWW
Team News:
Dan Ballard was forced off with a suspected groin injury against Burnley in the ninth minute following an awkward landing.
The extent of the injury is unclear and Ballard will likely miss the cup tie against Huddersfield.
Despite Leo Hjelde, Luke O’Nien, Romaine Mundle and Dennis Cirkin remaining sidelined, Nordi Mukiele could be in line to start for Sunderland following his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Aji Alese has returned to gradual training as he looks to ramp up his recovery following the shoulder injury he sustained in January.
Whilst he won’t be available for this game, his return to football is imminent.
Huddersfield are still without Rhys Healey, Jacob Chapman, Mickel Miller and Anthony Evans, leaving them with a relatively settled squad to pick from.
Read more: Dennis Cirkin exit update emerges in newspaper as Sunderland line up 13th new signing
Predicted Lineups
Sunderland: Patterson; Hume, Mukiele, Seelt, Masuaku; Neil, Rigg, Le Fee; Roberts, Isidor, Guiu
Huddersfield: Nicholls; Gooch, Feeney, Wallace, Roughan; Vost, Kasumu, Ashia, Wiles, Roosken; Charles
Prediction: Sunderland 3 – 1 Huddersfield
Sunderland should bounce back to winning ways comfortably, and a clinical attacking performance is exactly what Le Bris will want from his attackers.
This is a perfect opportunity for players to gain confidence at the start of the season, and many of the new signings will be licking their lips at the prospect of notching their first goal for the Black Cats.
Holding the joint-best attacking record in League One, Huddersfield will prove to be a threat on the counter and could cause some trouble if the Black Cats aren’t at their best.
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