Sunderland news: Rooney could be in Stadium of Light dugout next week in major twist
Sunderland are set to compete in this season’s Championship playoffs but are first looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Swansea.
The Black Cats had enjoyed a three-game unbeaten run, which included 1-0 victories over both Millwall and West Brom, before being beaten by the Swans.
Regis Le Bris’ men will strive to get back to winning ways when they face fellow top-six outfit Bristol City on Good Friday.
After travelling to the West Country on Friday, the Mackems then host Blackburn at the Stadium of Light on Monday (21 April).
Rooney could visit the Stadium of Light with Blackburn
Last time out against Blackburn, the Mackems played out a 2-2 draw with the Lancashire outfit at Ewood Park on Boxing Day.
Since then, Blackburn have witnessed a managerial change with Valerien Ismael replacing John Eustace, who joined Derby in February.
But Ismael has managed just one win in eight games in charge of Blackburn and could be replaced by Wayne Rooney, according to talkSPORT (15 April), meaning that the former Plymouth boss could yet be in charge of Rovers come next week’s clash at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland must restore their momentum ahead of the playoffs
Sunderland are now guaranteed to land a playoff spot and look all but certain to finish fourth in the Championship at the end of the campaign.
| Opponent | Result |
| Millwall (H) | 1-0 W |
| West Brom (A) | 0-1 W |
| Norwich (A) | 0-0 D |
| Swansea (H) | 0-1 L |
If the Mackems avoid defeat against fifth-place Bristol City on Friday, Liam Manning’s men will no long be able to leapfrog Le Bris’ side into fourth spot.
But while the Black Cats have already wrapped up their playoff place, the North East giants must look to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Swansea.
Sunderland will enhance their chances of booking a spot in next season’s Premier League via the playoffs if they can end the regular season in a rich vein of form.
The Stadium of Light club recently did well to bounce back from their 3-0 loss at Coventry with back-to-back wins over Millwall and West Brom.
Le Bris and Co. will now look to repeat that trick with wins over Bristol City, Blackburn, Oxford and Queens Park Rangers to end their season strongly after their defeat to Swansea.