Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Sunderland will be without Lee Cattermole following the recurrence of a long-standing groin problem.
The Black Cats are however boosted by the return of John O’Shea, Fabio Borini, Younes Kaboul and Ola Toivonen after recent injuries.
Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama is suspended after he was sent off against Bournemouth last weekend.
Striking duo Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long remain sidelined with respective knee and foot injuries.
Editor’s Note: Sunderland were torn apart last week by Everton as they shipped 6 at Goodison Park although conversely they should have got 4 goals themselves. This shows that are goals in the team and Jermaine Defoe is being much better utilised under Sam Allardyce but the real underlying issue is at the back.
They will see the return of O’Shea and Kaboul today but neither man has had too much of an impressive season so far so it certainly seems as if Big Sam and his Black Cats are going to have their work cut out if they are going to get anything out of today’s game.
They go up against a Southampton side who now sit 7th in the league, they started well against local South Coast rivals Bournemouth last week but were certainly tested as the game went on, that said after a relatively slow start to the season the momentum is picking up game by game and are certainly looking more and more like the team who finished 7th last season.
Lee Cattermole and Victor Wanyama are both out so the centre of Midfield should be a safer place today, I think Southampton will have enough to out class Sunderland today and pick up all 3 points.
