Southampton FC predicted starting team lineup vs Sunderland

Prior to the Wednesday match against Preston North End being rescheduled, SAINTS were ready for an additional three-game week.

Rest and recuperation were the orders of the day, and the promotion-chasing teams had training pitch work on Thursday before Sunderland.

The game, which will be played at St Mary’s, is set to take place in reversal of Southampton’s first loss of the season, a 5-0 thrashing.

Here’s how we believe Russell Martin will set up his team with Ryan Fraser and Kyle Walker-Peters sidelined…

Gavin Bazunu will likely play every game left this season following elimination from cup competitions.

Defenders

With Walker-Peters ruled out, Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be tasked with playing to the right of captain Jack Stephens again.

Jan Bednarek and Ryan Manning will complete the left side of defence with James Bree ready and waiting from the bench.

Flynn Downes returned to the starting team last weekend at Birmingham and Martin will be hoping he does not leave it again.

He will sit behind Will Smallbone and a recharged Stuart Armstrong, who will look to provide the creativity in the opposition half.

Adam Armstrong was back to his most involved best at St Andrew’s and Martin has confirmed he will not bench his number nine again.

Che Adams and David Brooks were also on the scoresheet in the Midlands and assured of a start to make the starting team unchanged.

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