Sunderland travel to Hillsborough Stadium on Friday night in the EFL Championship to face Sheffield Wednesday.

Black Cats head coach Regis Le Bris faces numerous decisions when picking his starting XI for Friday night following back-to-back defeats for the first time during his tenure at Sunderland.

Dan Ballard and Enzo Le Fee were substituted during Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat to Hull City last Saturday with hamstring injuries.

Defender Chris Mepham will come straight in for Ballard, but Le Bris may struggle to replace Le Fee’s spark on the left.

The manager must also make a call over his starting goalkeeper. There is a decision to make out on the right and whether to rest 17-year-old Chris Rigg, who has been running on empty lately.

Sunderland May Turn to Experience After Recent Howlers

Normally, this would be a straightforward answer, as Anthony Patterson has been Sunderland’s number one for the past four seasons.

But the Black Cats keeper’s mistakes in recent weeks have proven costly.

Patterson dropped the ball in his own net from a corner in Hull City’s 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last weekend.

Patterson’s performances were also brought into question in the recent defeat to Leeds United.

The keeper failed to deal with Joe Rothwell’s cross which was eventually turned in by Pascal Struijk to give Leeds United a 2-1 in a match that seriously dented the team’s automatic promotion prospects.

Experienced goalkeeper Simon Moore is the backup option available to Sunderland.

Moore played in four consecutive games earlier this season when Patterson was out injured.

In those games, Moore kept three clean sheets. He conceded two goals across the four games, both of which came in a 2-2 draw against Coventry City.

Patterson has come under serious criticism online over the past few weeks, and Le Bris may protect his young goalkeeper by taking him out of the firing line.

Enzo Le Fee injury – Who replaces the Frenchman?

Le Fee had started every game since arriving on loan from AS Roma in January.

But following the Frenchman’s hamstring injury, Le Bris will now need to find a replacement for a player who was a mainstay in his starting XI.

The manager has stated that the player will be unavailable for up to six weeks.

Romaine Mundle replaced Le Fee at halftime last weekend, and he would be the most natural replacement given that the AS Roma loanee was operating as a left winger.

Mundle himself has recently returned from a hamstring injury that he sustained against Coventry in November.

Decision to Be Made on Key Attacking Midfielder

Rigg has started all but two games for Sunderland this season.

The youngster was probably a shoo-in to drop to the bench before Le Fee’s injury.

But the 17-year-old could still drop out of the starting line-up, as he needs a rest due to the number of minutes he has played recently.

Milan Aleksic is an option that the Sunderland head coach could use to give Rigg a break.

The Serbian midfielder has only played 140 minutes for Sunderland this season but has impressed when on the pitch.

He averages 0.46 xG per 90 as well as 1.29 chances created per 90.

Aleksic had two goals and seven assists for FK Radnicki last season before moving to Wearside for the current campaign.

He also scored for the Black Cats in their 2-1 January FA Cup defeat to Stoke City.

Time to Replace Out-of-Form Winger

Le Bris may also look to make a change on the right due to the lack of goal involvement from Patrick Roberts.

Roberts hasn’t scored or assisted for Sunderland since December 26th and has gone 11 games without a goal contribution.

Ian Poveda has recently returned to full fitness and made three appearances from the bench in Sunderland’s last four games.

Another option for Le Bris on the right is Eliezer Mayenda.

Although not naturally a right winger, Mayenda has had impressive substitute cameos in that position recently.

The manager may opt for the 19-year-old striker who has four goals and five assists to his name this season.

Tommy Watson is also set to return after his injury.

Watson and Mundle mainly operate on the left, but both can play either side.

Predicted Sunderland XI (4-2-3-1):

Moore; Hume, Mepham, O’Nien, Cirkin; Neil ©, Bellingham; Mayenda, Rigg, Mundle; Isidor.