Starting XI: We Predict Our Line Up For Our Final Pre-Season Friendly

BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE - JULY 23: Head coach Regis Le Bris watches the players during a Sunderland AFC training session on July 23, 2026 in Brentwood, Tennessee. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images) | Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

It’s fair to say that all of us would have hoped – if not expected – to have more new signings in place by the time we got to this point, however the most important thing right now is we’ve kept hold of everyone we wanted to (fingers crossed that remains the case) and we’ve still got some time to add in the two or three positions we probably all agree we need a bit more strength in.

Our last couple of preseason games typically give us a strong idea as to the team that will start the season, and frustratingly it’s in an area in which we have decent depth – the centre of defence – that we find ourselves scratching our heads a little.

Nordi is likely to miss this one, Alderete’s still carrying an injury inflicted by the dirty Aussies in the World Cup, while Dan Ballard went down at the end of last week’s game in France. Hopefully that one’s not a major concern, but we know Ballard’s prone to picking up injuries, so we could well be looking at starting the season with Luke O’Nien and Jenson Seelt at the back – and, with the best will in the world, that’s not Plan A.

Still, we’ll wait and see what transpires. Here’s how we could line up this afternoon.

Goalkeeper: Robin Roefs

It’s been nice to see Roefs back in action over the past couple of weeks, and I’m looking forward to seeing him develop even further this season, with a year of Premier League football under his belt.

Defence: Thomas Meunier, Jenson Seelt, Luke O’Nien, Reinildo

Thomas Meunier impressed on his first appearance in, erm, pink last weekend, and will get another outing today. It’s looking likely he’ll start the season at right back, which again probably wasn’t the plan, although it’s not a bad fall back at all. I did wonder whether we might try him out alongside O’Nien in the centre today – I just don’t see us risking Ballard – so that’s something to watch out for. As it goes, I think Seelt will get a run out in the centre alongside Luke, with Reinildo playing left side.

Midfield: Trai Hume, Enzo Le Fee, Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi

It’s highly likely Hume will begin the season on the right of midfield, and I’m all for it. I might be in a minority, but he plays such an important role in the team tactically, he’s one of those that if you take him out of that role it really exposes what he does bring. Enzo will play centrally this season and rightly so, he’s a genius and needs to be on the ball as much as possible, while it was nice to see Xhaka back in the side last week. What speculation?! Sadiki will likely play in the centre – it’s going to be interesting how we get Diarra into the equation too – while I think Talbi will start on the left and really kick on this season.

Striker: Brian Brobbey

The link up play between our Dutch striker and the midfield is getting better and better, and it’s exciting to look ahead to a fully fit and confident Brobbey taking on the Premier League this season. He’s a completely different proposition to the one who arrived less than 12 months ago, and I do think this factor is getting overlooked in some of the transfer panic going on in some quarters on social media. We’ve got an excellent squad, most of whom had never played in English football, never mind the Premier League, before they arrived last year. They have now. They’re young, have significantly more experience than they arrived with, know each other, the manager and the club – there’s huge value in that. So yes, while we need a bit of depth, maybe a challenger for a left back spot and a right winger, don’t underestimate what we have in the building already. Because it’s bloody good.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →