Sunderland v Leicester City: match preview

Thermometers are predicted to touch a sunny 13C when the clock strikes three at the Stadium of Light. Not exactly roasting but warm enough to discard winter scarves – well unless you are Dick Advocaat. Sunderland’s manager has wrapped his neck in a piece of “lucky” brown wool – “stylish eh,” he says – ever since succeeding Gus Poyet and, after wearing it during last week’s rather flukey win at Everton, is unlikely to dispense with it. A game Advocaat could do with winning slightly more than Nigel Pearson. The influence of Sunderland’s Jordi Gómez and Leicester’s Matty James will be missed after both sustained serious knee injuries. Louise Taylor

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue Stadium of Light

Last season n/a

Referee M Atkinson

This season G30, Y119, R7, 4.43 cards per game

Odds H 7-4 A 9-5 D 11-5

Sunderland v Leicester City: probable starters in bold, contenders in light

Sunderland

Subs from Mannone, Vergini, Agnew, Revéillère, Giaccherini, Fletcher, Johnson, Buckley, Watmore, Honeyman

Doubtful Giaccherini (ankle)

Injured Álvarez (knee, Aug), Brown (knee, Aug), Gómez (knee, Aug), Rodwell (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Form LWLDWW

Discipline Y90 R2

Leading scorer Wickham 5

Leicester City

Subs from Schwarzer, De Laet, King, Koncheksy, Drinkwater, Nugent, Kramaric, Wood, Simpson

Doubtful King (hamstring)

Injured James (knee, Feb), Nugent (calf, unknown)

Suspended None

Form WWWLWW

Discipline Y49 R4

Leading scorer Ulloa 10