Midfield riddle as Stoke City starting XI vs Sunderland predicted
Narcis Pelach will ponder a central midfield riddle as Stoke City and Sunderland's month of speed dating begins this weekend.
Pelach has tried to be pretty consistent with his selection since taking over as head coach in September but it will be interesting to see how much he tries to adapt the engine room over the next few weeks and months.
Tatsuki Seko has become one of the first names on the teamsheet since breaking into the starting XI in late October and Andrew Moran has been pushed further forward in the absence of Sam Gallagher to support Tom Cannon in a number 10 role. Wouter Burger has been a regular starter but has only completed 90 minutes on four occasions so far this season and played 64 minutes or fewer in six of the last 10 matches.
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Sol Sidibe's game time has been increasing, Jordan Thompson's has been decreasing, Bosun Lawal is stepping up his training and Ben Pearson is hoping to come back into consideration at some point.
It will be a good test against a young but highly-rated Sunderland central midfield of Dan Neil, aged 22, and Jobe Bellingham, aged 19, operating behind 17-year-old Chris Rigg.
Seko, Burger and Moran are the most likely to get the nod if Pelach returns to a 4-4-2-come-4-2-3-1 system after using wing-backs last time out against Burnley.
There are decisions to be made at right-back, where Ben Wilmot has shared game time with Junior Tchamadeu, and left-back, where Enda Stevens is trying to prove his fitness. Lewis Koumas, on loan from Liverpool, is trying to get back into the side too and could fit into any of the forward roles.
Predicted Stoke starting XI vs Sunderland: Johansson, Wilmot, Bocat, Phillips, Gibson, Seko, Burger, Moran, Manhoef, Junho, Cannon
