Sunderland vs Leeds United Preview: Tickets, TV coverage, Streaming, Team News

Sunderland return to Championship action when they take on Leeds United on Friday.

Here are all the details you need to know about the game…

WHERE IS THE GAME TAKING PLACE?

Having seen off Derby County on home soil to return to the top of the Championship table on Tuesday night, Sunderland return to the Stadium of Light to take on Leeds.

Recent games between the two sides on Wearside have been closely matched, with Sunderland having won three and lost three of their last six home matches against Leeds.

Last season’s game ended in a 1-0 win to the Black Cats, with Jobe Bellingham scoring the only goal of the game in the 78th minute.

WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF?

Friday’s game kicks off at 8pm.

ARE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE?

Yes – tickets for the home sections of the Stadium of Light for Friday’s game are still available via the ticketing section of Sunderland’s official website.

However, they are only on sale to eligible supporters with either a membership number or a previous purchasing history on the site.

IS THE GAME BEING TELEVISED OR STREAMED LIVE?

Yes, Friday’s game is being televised by Sky Sports and will be broadcast on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football channels.

As the game is being broadcast live, there will be no domestic streaming available.

Radio commentary for the match will be available on BBC Radio Newcastle and talkSPORT 2. The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson will be at the Stadium of Light producing a live blog, report, ratings, reaction and analysis on The Northern Echo’s official website.

WHAT IS SUNDERLAND’S LIKELY LINE-UP?

Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda are both expected to be unavailable for the visit of Leeds, having also missed Tuesday’s win over Derby.

Ballard is nursing an ankle injury sustained in last month’s defeat at Plymouth, while Mayenda is struggling with a muscular problem.

Ian Poveda is facing at least a month on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the closing stages of the Derby win, having come on as a substitute in the second half.

With Poveda unavailable, recent signing Aaron Connolly is expected to feature in the matchday squad. However, the free signing is likely to be an unused substitute as he continues to build up his fitness.

Sunderland (probable, 4-3-3): Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Cirkin; Bellingham, Neil, Rigg; Roberts, Isidor, Mundle.

HOW ARE LEEDS SHAPING UP?

Leeds midfielder Ilia Gruev is a major doubt for Friday night’s game after suffering a knee injury in the early stages of his side’s midweek draw with Norwich City.

Gruev was forced off in the 20th minute at Carrow Road on Tuesday night and is unlikely to have recovered in time to line up against Sunderland.

Joe Rothwell replaced Gruev off the bench in midweek, and is likely to retain his place in the side at the Stadium of Light.

Ethan Ampadu is a long-term absentee, while Daniel Farke will have to decide whether to stick with a misfiring Mateo Joseph in attack or recall either Patrick Bamford or Joel Piroe to his starting line-up.

Leeds (probable, 4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Rothwell, Tanaka; Gnonto, Aaronson, Ramazani; Joseph.