Sunderland will be looking to hit back from the disappointment of last season's playoffs when they start their Championship campaign against Ipswich Town on Sunday evening.
While these two sides were playing in different divisions during 2022-23, League One runners-up Ipswich are being tipped to put together a charge for a second successive promotion.
Match preview
© Reuters
There is an argument that Sunderland reaching the Championship playoffs last season should be treated as the bonus that it ultimately was, yet it still did not mean that they were not hugely disappointed to miss out on back-to-back promotions.
Tony Mowbray worked wonders to move the club into a position where wins over Luton Town and Coventry City were all that were required for a return to the Premier League, but now the task is very much on trying to regain some momentum.
Sunderland have acquired seven players to strengthen their squad, some replacing the departing loanees and fringe players, but retaining the services of Jack Clarke and Ross Stewart will be as important as any arrival.
The Black Cats have placed a firm focus on signing younger talent, but if they can hit the ground running at the Stadium of Light, the potential is there for another promotion bid.
Up until their last game of pre-season, Sunderland had put together a six-game undefeated streak, but a side featuring numerous first-teamers lost 5-2 to Hartlepool United on Tuesday to indicate that more depth may be required.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, Ipswich have the same momentum that Sunderland had after promotion 12 months ago, with the Tractor Boys able to see that it is more than just a turn of phrase.
Kieran McKenna has not necessarily followed a second-placed finish with the level of additions that were perhaps expected, but this is a club that had already signed Championship-level players in the preceding two transfer windows.
Of those that have arrived, Peterborough United midfielder Jack Taylor, Chelsea playmaker Omari Hutchinson and returning former loanee George Hirst are all players that can benefit this squad.
Ipswich had somewhat of a different pre-season to most, playing two matches on the same day on three occasions, yet winning the Innsbruck Cup after games with RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen has only increased expectations at Portman Road.
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- W
- L
- L
- D
- W
- D
Team News
© Reuters
Jobe Bellingham is expected to be among the players that will be handed a debut for Sunderland this weekend.
The midfielder and young forward Luis Semedo are most likely to be selected by Mowbray, with defender Nectarios Triantis in line to remain on the substitutes' bench.
New signing Nathan Bishop will also be selected among the replacements, but Stewart remains out with an Achilles injury.
Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton is expected to miss this contest with a foot injury, leaving Vaclav Hladky in line to deputise between the sticks.
McKenna's side played two 60-minute games in the Innsbruck Cup, and his starting lineup for this encounter could be made up of players who featured in different games.
Taylor and Hutchinson could each make their debuts, however, regardless of whether McKenna goes with a back three or four.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke; Semedo
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Edmondson, Woolfenden, Burgess; Jackson, Morsy, Taylor, Davis; Chaplin, Hirst, Hutchinson
We say: Sunderland 1-1 Ipswich Town
Two teams with big expectations should make for an intriguing contest on Sunday, Ipswich somewhat of an unknown quantity back at this level. Nevertheless, they may relish being underdogs on this stage, and we are backing the Tractor Boys to earn a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
