20:00 Friday

Sunderland Double Chance

Midweek’s EFL slate saw Sunderland continue their impressive run of form, as they beat Derby 2-0, in turn winning their first four home games of the season to nil for the first time in their history. 

Under the stewardship of Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats have been imperious, winning six of their opening eight games as they look to improve on last season’s 16th-place finish. 

Leeds drew 1-1 at Norwich to push the Whites up to fourth. It was a familiar tale for Daniel Farke, with his side asserting dominance for periods of the game, only for his pragmatism to be their undoing. Farke may settle for a point away at a Sunderland side who have won all four home games. 

Wilson Isidor To Score Anytime

Much was made of Sunderland’s failure to bring in a ‘proven’ goal scorer in the summer. Last season, the Black Cats only scored 52 goals and lost Jack Clarke, who scored 15 of those goals, to Ipswich. 

Wilson Isidor was brought in on loan from Russian side FC Zenit after a respectable record over three years in Russia. The 24-year-old had to bide his time for minutes at Sunderland, as he was only given 40 minutes across his opening three appearances. 

However, he was afforded a rare start in the defeat at Watford and the Frenchman took his chance with aplomb, scoring after 49 minutes. 

Le Bris kept his faith in Isidor, starting him in the home game against Derby. He scored again, making it two goals from just two starts. 

The burly forward is a juicy price to continue his purple patch. 

Trai Hume to be Shown a Card

Trai Hume is no stranger to the referee’s notebook. The Northern Irish international has been shown 19 cards over the last two seasons and has now been given a yellow in four of his eight Championship starts this season, as well as in his country’s clash with Bulgaria. 

The 22-year-old faces a tough dual against the livewire Wilfried Gnonto on Friday. The Italian is averaging 2.83 fouls won per 90 this campaign, a slight decrease from last season’s total of 2.94.

With the departures of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in the summer, Gnonto is now the Whites’ main threat in attack. 

Largie Ramazani signed in the summer and has won 1.42 fouls per 90. The 23-year-old was signed from Spanish side Almeria and rotates with Gnonto in-game to terrorise their opposing numbers. 

With Hume a serial card-getter against two lively wingers, it would not be a surprise to see him carded yet again.