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Sunderland Predicted Starting XI For Dinamo Zagreb Clash After Major Injury News
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- Sunderland Predicted Starting XI For Dinamo Zagreb Clash After Major Injury News
Sunderland host Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday evening
Sunderland are back in Europa League action on Thursday evening with the Black Cats playing host to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb.
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The Black Cats head into the fixture still unbeaten in the Europa League with two wins and a draw from their opening three matches, but contrarily have severely struggled in the Premier League.
Sunderland fell to a shocking 3-1 defeat at Coventry City on Saturday afternoon in a totally substandard performance in every area of the pitch, which left many Black Cats fans wondering whether Regis Le Bris' time as head coach was coming to an unfortunate end.
However, in the build-up to the visit of Zagreb, news emerged that Le Bris' job as Sunderland boss is "safe" for now and that the Frenchman will be given time to turn his side's league fortunes around.
Ahead of the Zagreb clash, Le Bris confirmed that Chemsdine Talbi has replaced Habib Diarra in Sunderland's Europa League squad , with the Senegalese midfielder now sidelined for six weeks after suffering another unfortunate injury issue shortly after returning to fitness.
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With Chelsea visiting the Stadium of Light just three days after Zagreb, Le Bris will likely make several changes to the side that were hammered at Coventry and use several young talents in hopes of securing a win on Thursday evening.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris before the Lech Poznan clash (IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire)
Predicted Sunderland Starting XI Vs Dinamo Zagreb
Predicted Sunderland Starting XI vs Dinamo Zagreb: Roefs, Meunier, Danso, O'Nien, Methalie, Ahoka, Sadiki, Talbi, Fofana, Angulo, Tutierov.
Robin Roefs will certainly start in goal, but there will be serious debate among the Stadium of Light faithful over who will play outfield for Le Bris.
Given his return to full fitness after picking up a knock in the defeat against Brighton on October 10, Thomas Meunier could be granted a start by Le Bris as an experienced head, offering Trai Hume a much-needed rest.
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In central defence, given his shocking performance against Coventry at the weekend, which saw him sent off in injury time, Omar Alderete should drop out of the starting XI for Spurs loanee Kevin Danso, with Luke O'Nien likely featuring alongside him and Dayann Methalie continuing his European run at left-back.
Moving into midfield, 20-year-old talent Jules Ahoka has earned a continued run in Sunderland's Europa League squad after his exciting performances of late , with his compatriot Noah Sadiki potentially deployed alongside him to offer pair Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fee a break.
Given the switch of Diarra for Talbi to the Europa League squad, and his stellar showing in last week's Carabao Cup win over Brentford, Le Bris could deploy the Moroccan talent in the number ten role that he shone in against Keith Andrews' side.
Chemsdine Talbi (R) has replaced Habib Diarra in Sunderland's Europa League squad (IMAGO / NurPhoto)
On the wings, Nilson Angulo and Malick Fofana performed well against Lech Poznan last time out in Europe and have both shone against Leeds United and Brentford respectively, and therefore deserve to start against Zagreb on Thursday.
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Up-front, it will be interesting to see whether Le Bris utilises one of his two senior strikers in Brian Brobbey or Wilson Isidor, or if promising young forward Timur Tutierov will continue his run in Europe after netting the opener against the Polish champions with just two minutes on the clock.
Given the academy product also netted against the Bees in his last performance, Tutierov has earned the right to start against Zagreb as the 21-year-old looks to add to his two-goal tally, with Le Bris also having Brobbey or Isidor to call upon from the bench should Sunderland be chasing the game.
Sunderland remain undefeated in Europe despite their barren start to the Premier League season, and with Zagreb coming to Wearside without a permanent manager after parting company with Mario Kovacevic at the weekend, whichever team Le Bris fields should be securing nothing less than three points.
