The lads are back in action today, and all eyes are on the team sheet as Sunderland prepare to take on Manchester United. With one key change expected, fans are eager to see how the Black Cats bounce back from last week's defeat to Wolves.

It's a blow to lose Dan Ballard—apparently a stray braid caught him in the hand, and the injury is serious enough to keep him out. Ballard's absence leaves a gap at the back, and the big question is how manager Le Bris will fill it. The answer hinges on Trai Hume: will he stay in his hybrid role, shift to right back, or even drop to the bench? I have my preference, but I suspect Le Bris will go a different route.

In goal, Roefs will be looking to rebound after a shaky display against Wolves. He's been less aggressive off his line lately, which is odd given that was his biggest strength earlier this season. Today, he faces a keeper Sunderland were heavily linked with before signing the Dutchman—a subplot that adds some spice to the matchup.

With Ballard out, the defensive dilemma is clear: move Nordi inside to partner Alderete, or bring Luke O'Nien back into the starting XI? Mukiele's attacking runs are a real asset, so there's a strong case for keeping him at right back and pairing Mukiele with Alderete in the center, with Hume at full back. But I think Le Bris will go the other way—O'Nien at centre back, and Hume pushed further upfield.

If O'Nien slots into the backline, expect Hume to feature in midfield. The Villa and Forest matches seemed to shake Le Bris's confidence, and his decision to deploy Hume in midfield at Molineux showed a desire to return to the solid shape that served Sunderland so well earlier in the season. Habib Diarra was largely sidelined last week, and that trend may continue today. Le Fee needs to be in the center of the park, which, with Xhaka in the mix, leaves a straight shootout between Sadiki and Diarra—and right now, there's a clear winner. On the left, Talbi should start, with Jimmy or Angulo likely to make an impact off the bench in the second half.

Up front, Isidor could get the nod, but I'm leaning toward Brobbey. It's tough for him at times—he's often left isolated—but with Le Fee playing more centrally, we might finally see the service he needs to thrive.