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Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed that Patrick Roberts could travel with the squad for the Championship fixture against Luton Town on Saturday after injury.

The Lowdown: Knock in training

Speaking to the media after his team’s 4-2 defeat against Burnley at the Stadium of Light last weekend, Mowbray confirmed that the 25-year-old had ‘picked up a knock in training’, meaning that he had to sit out the game.

The Black Cats boss added that he would have to see how the week develops before deciding whether to bring Roberts back into the squad for the trip to Kenilworth Road.

The Latest: Could travel

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match at the weekend, Mowbray has stated that both Roberts and Ellis Simms could travel with the Sunderland squad and play a part against Luton, after stepping up their recoveries from injury.

The 58-year-old said: “We hope Ellis will be back. He has felt it a bit on occasion, but he’s trained all week. When he does come back will be a huge boost for us.

“Patrick trained on Thursday and came through well. If there’s no reaction on his hamstring, he’ll travel for the game. It seemed more fatigue-based than an injury, but you always have to be careful with a hamstring issue. Burnley was too soon to risk him.”

The Verdict: Big boost for Sunderland

To have Roberts back in the squad along with Simms would be a big boost for Sunderland.

The former Manchester City winger had started the Black Cats’ previous eight games in the league before the defeat to Burnley, picking up two goals and one assist (Transfermarkt) as he established himself as a key player under Mowbray.

Roberts currently ranks as Sunderland’s fifth-best performer in the Championship, ranking highly among his team-mates for average shots and key passes per match, while nobody at the club dribbles more than him per outing (WhoScored).

Adding him and Simms to the attack should give the Wearsiders a huge goal threat against Luton on Saturday, with the duo having netted five league goals between them so far this term.

Carlos Corberan would have been keen to build upon his first victory as manager of West Bromwich Albion in midweek, and a fine win on the road today against promotion-chasing Queens Park Rangers certainly came as a surprise considering the Baggies’ position in the relegation zone.

In a game where he started without a recognised striker, it was clear that the Spaniard had a gameplan which relied upon blistering speed on the break. This was applied with Matt Phillips, Grady Diangana and Jed Wallace all starting in a front three.

Whilst none of them exerted their offensive will on the home side, it was the creative presence just behind them which truly stole the show.

John Swift, who has been the Baggies’ highest-rated player so far this term, continued to shine under the new manager with a display worthy of winning any match.

Although the headlines may go to goalscorer and clean sheet holder Kyle Bartley, who did boast the highest SofaScore rating of the match, the unsung heroics of the 27-year-old were instrumental in their victory. His rating of 7.6 was not far behind the match-winner.

Without a target man to hit for large parts of the game, at times the midfielder was starved of the ball. When he did get it, though, there was a pinpoint accuracy which at times left Michael Beale’s side helpless.

With his 56 touches, he managed to complete an exceptional five key passes, creating one big chance which won them the game as his wicked delivery was met by Bartley. To further showcase his influence and accuracy, he also recorded six completed crosses alongside an 80% pass accuracy.

Swift offered a steady pair of legs alongside the more defensive-minded Okay Yokusly and Jayson Molumby, who was more than happy to dig in when his team required it. This was outlined in his 15 duels in which he competed, while he even recorded one clearance and one tackle.

It was the quintessential all-round performance that Corberan needed to drag his team through this game, and West Brom are finally seeing flashes of the man who former Reading manager Veljko Paunovic dubbed “super talented”.

Having toppled the which that started the day in fourth, the result drags Albion closer to safety despite them remaining in the relegation zone.

Swift went somewhat under the radar today but stepped up to quietly be the star of the show at Loftus Road.

Leeds United are seemingly eyeing a January move for Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro, according to reports.

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who had the following to say to GIVEMESPORT on a potential deal:

“I think he would be a huge upgrade for Leeds at left-back, which has been a real problem position for them for the last couple of seasons. 

“If they’re able to lure Raphael Guerreiro to Elland Road, I think it’d be a real coup for the club.”

The exciting asset had also drawn interest from Manchester City in the summer, outlining his credentials as a fine option for the Whites.

Huge coup

The 28-year-old maestro – who has been named in Portugal’s official squad for the upcoming World Cup – has earned praise for his consistently impressive performances in Germany over the past few years, having scored 37 and assisted 39 from defence.

That form under various bosses boasts a consistency seldom seen around Elland Road in recent years, during what has been a tumultuous time for the club.

The 56-cap star has continued to impress this season despite his side’s poor form, with six goal contributions already detailing him as one of the standout players for the Black and Yellows.

His versatility is also outlined as a huge factor in his marketability, with his former sporting director Michael Zorc labelling the £81k-per-week star “a great footballer”

Bringing in such a high-profile recruit would mark a huge coup for Jesse Marsch, as noted earlier by O’Rourke, and could finally spell the end for the wholly disappointing tenure of Junior Firpo. 

The 26-year-old flop had moved to Yorkshire billed as an athletic full-back with a desire to stay on the front foot and coming from Barcelona he had great recommendations.

In recent seasons under both Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch the 26-year-old’s performances have instead sparked vast amounts of criticism and questions about his place in the team.

The defender was notably described as lacking “defensive awareness” by former Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny before he answered his own damning question about Firpo’s future: “Is he good enough for Leeds and to wear that shirt? No, I don’t think he is.”

Boasting European pedigree far beyond anything already at the club, and creativity again better than most, there is no doubt that tempting him to Leeds would mark a sensational piece of business as they once again look to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap.

Sunderland will be hoping to head into the World Cup break on a high as they travel away from the Stadium of Light to face Birmingham at St. Andrew’s in the Championship tonight.

This is the club’s final match between now and the 3rd of December and should be looking to avoid two straight defeats before the international tournament.

Tony Mowbray’s side lost 1-0 to Cardiff at home last time out in the division and are currently sat 17th in the table, with a win tonight taking them up to 12th before the weekend’s fixtures.

How many changes will the boss make to the team from that defeat?

Here is our predicted XI…

Anthony Patterson; Niall Huggins, Bailey Wright, Danny Batth, Dennis Cirkin; Daniel Neil, Corry Evans (C), Amad Diallo, Elliot Embleton, Jack Clarke; Ellis Simms

The Black Cats could make three alterations to their side, with Elliot Embleton, Corry Evans, and Niall Huggins all coming in.

Mowbray will be forced into making at least one change as the versatile Luke O’Nien is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

He started at right-back against Cardiff and his absence could open the door for 21-year-old Niall Huggins to make his long-awaited return to first-team action.

The former Leeds United full-back has not played a senior game since September of 2021 and has recently played in three under-21 matches to build his fitness back up, which indicates that he could be ready to be thrown back in at right-back.

In midfield, captain Evans could come for Abdoullah Ba after the Frenchman struggled against Cardiff – losing 75% (3/4) of his individual duels and completing 68% of his attempted passes.

The skipper has won 55% of his battles in the Championship and completed 82% of his passes, which suggests that he could come in as an upgrade in the middle of the park by offering more on and off the ball.

Finally, Embleton, 23, may replace Patrick Roberts as part of the attack after Sunderland managed two shots on target at home to the Bluebirds.

The Black Cats academy graduate, who was once dubbed a “nightmare” by former teammate Max Power on the SAFC Unfiltered Podcast, has shown some signs of promise in front of goal with two goals and two assists in the Championship this season.

He could be unleashed from the start ahead of Roberts, who can then be held back as a super sub for the second half, in order to freshen up the struggling attack from their defeat last time out.

Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Liverpool are having ‘contacts’ over some potential transfer moves in January.

The Lowdown: Poor start

By the Reds’ high standards, they have had a poor start to the season, lingering in sixth place in the Premier League table and seven points away from the Champions League places.

There have been reports of a potential takeover at Anfield, which could affect any plans in the January transfer window in terms of bringing in new reinforcements in order to try and kick on in the second half of the campaign.

The Latest: Having ‘contacts’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano has claimed that Liverpool are having ‘contacts’ to see if there any possible deals that they could execute in January, although their ‘main focus’ is to sign a new midfielder in the summer.

The Italian stated: “In January, it will be about the opportunities. I think they need some fresh players to help Jurgen Klopp.

“They’re exploring the market. They’re having some contacts to see if there are some good opportunities, but the main focus will be on the new midfielder, a top midfielder, in the summer.”

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The Verdict: Exciting for Kopites

It will certainly be exciting for Liverpool supporters to hear that the Reds will be exploring the January market after a poor start to the campaign.

Although the top-flight title already looks seemingly out of reach, with Jurgen Klopp’s side a whopping 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal, they are still in the Champions League, a competition in which they reached the final last season and have won twice this century.

One or two quality additions could help them to push again for European glory and at least claw back a Champions League berth for next term in the league.

Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Manchester United hardly have a chance of signing Jude Bellingham anymore.

The Lowdown: Number one target

Plettenberg reported earlier this month that Bellingham is the number one target at Old Trafford, but he is set to cost at least €150m (£130m).

Their two biggest rivals Manchester City and Liverpool want him too, so it will no doubt be a fascinating race for the Borussia Dortmund and England star.

The Latest: Little chance now

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg has now revealed that the Red Devils have little chance of signing Bellingham anymore, with Real Madrid joining City and Liverpool in the race:

“X News #Bellingham: Been told that #MUFC hardly has a chance anymore. Triple fight: Liverpool, City, Real! #LFC & Klopp pushing! But not at any price due to FFP. Price: Up to €150m! JB is LFCs top target for central midfield – next to 2 players from South America.”

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The Verdict: Shame

It is certainly a shame for Erik ten Hag’s side that they look set to miss out on Bellingham, especially potentially to a big rival.

Hailed as a ‘Rolls Royce’ by journalist Mark Douglas after an impressive showing for England against Iran at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he scored the opening goal, the central midfielder is lighting up the world stage at the tender age of just 19.

At Dortmund, he has managed nine goals and three assists from the middle of the park already this term and has even captained his side on two occasions (Transfermarkt).

Bellingham shows maturity on the pitch well beyond his youth, and he could have been a mainstay in United’s midfield for years to come.

A reliable club journalist has hinted that Aston Villa might return for an explosive former target, with manager Unai Emery scouring for talent that will enhance his team’s prospects of climbing the Premier League table under his tutelage. 

Discussing Villa’s prospective moves in the coming months, BirminghamLive reporter Ashley Preece confirmed that Watford’s Ismaila Sarr is likely to be a name the owners look at when considering which foray into the market will bring success to the club. 

He said:

“Sarr, yes, one we’ve spoken about a few times and, obviously, a player put to Villa by Johan Lange before that deal collapsed at the 11th hour. Villa do lack a Sarr-type in attack and it’s an area Emery wants to add to.”

Sarr would certainly be an acquisition of the right calibre for the Claret and Blue, with Emery, a four-time Europa League winner, eyeing a steady ascension up the ladder in search of success. 

Aston Villa had all but confirmed a deal for the Senegalese international in August, agreeing to a £25m fee for the player before withdrawing their bid at the final stage, citing a variety of hurdles. 

However, with the player scoring six goals and providing three assists from 17 outings in the Championship this season, remaining with the relegated Hornets, Emery appears to be enticed and could urge the club to table a fresh bid.

Capable of playing across the forward line, Sarr’s dynamism and pace would be a fine addition to any team looking to inject impactful additions.

The 51-cap Senegal international scored one goal during his nation’s group phase, a penalty during the pivotal 2-1 victory over Ecuador, and will likely see his stock rise if he can perform against England in the first knockout phase of the tournament. 

Once labelled as “electric” by journalist Rob Blanchette, Sarr would certainly bring an added dimension to the Villa attack, which has already shown signs of spluttering to life since the departure of Steven Gerrard.

As per Sofascore, the 24-year-old has recorded a rating of 7.27 in Qatar, mustering 3.0 shots per outing and proving to be a consistent thorn in the side of his opposition. 

His 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 1.3 possessive reclaims per match also furthers the argument that he could thrive under Emery, with the player having “stepped up” recently. 

Whether Watford are prepared to part with their phenom with the club sitting five points outside of automatic promotion to the Premier League will become clearer as the January transfer window draws closer, but with a frightening skill set only improving, he could be a dangerous force once more in the Premier League if Emery was to swoop. 

Wolves have been dealt a blow in their quest to sign Atletico Madrid attacker Matheus Cunha, with journalist Simon Phillips claiming he could join Everton instead.

The Lowdown: Wolves eyeing up move Cunha move

Julen Lopetegui is edging towards his first Premier League game in charge of Wanderers, having replaced Bruno Lage in the Molineux hot seat.

While the 2022 World Cup has been going on, the Spaniard will no doubt have been eyeing up possible new players and Cunha is someone who continues to be linked with a move to become the boss’ first new signing.

The 23-year-old has only started two matches in La Liga for Atletico this season and they are likely to let him leave during the January transfer window.

The Latest: Everton ahead in the race

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips admitted that Everton would likely win a race to sign Cunha, though:

“Oh, for sure. Everton have got a good history as a club anyway, and I think what’s more important is Frank Lampard’s pulling power.

“If a player is picking between Everton and Wolves, I think Lampard is going to be the standout decision-maker for any player really. We saw it at Chelsea, he single-handedly got players to sign for the club like Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz just with his influence.

“So, I think he can use that again at Everton, especially for a player like Cunha. I think they’ve got a better chance of signing him than Wolves.”

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The Verdict: Not done and dusted

While this is a blow for Wolves, considering Cunha has been labelled a ‘brilliant’ player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and has some incredible goals in his locker, hope is not lost yet.

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The lure of playing under Lopetegui rather than Frank Lampard could sway the Atletico man’s thinking and he may feel there isn’t much between the two clubs, in terms of squad quality.

Cunha would have the potential to be a superb signing for Wolves, igniting their attack and bringing with him a pedigree that has seen him win eight caps for Brazil.

Liverpool have been continuously linked with a move for Jude Bellingham and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has dropped a teasing update on the transfer race to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder over the coming months ahead and dismissed any chance of Jurgen Klopp parting ways with the club.

Romano wrote in his exclusive Caught Offside column:

“Jurgen Klopp was never keen on the Germany job. He’s 100% focused on Liverpool now, already discussing new signings with the board and insisting for Jude Bellingham. Klopp and Liverpool board will also decide together on player contract situations.”

Bellingham is “one to watch”

The prospect of signing Bellingham will be exciting for the supporters, the manager and the squad at Anfield as there has been a lot of upheaval, concern and uncertainty for the Merseyside giants over the last few months.

Liverpool have been struggling to build a run of consistent form in the Premier League which has led to them potentially falling out of contention in the title race for the first time in years as they are currently sixth and 15 points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.

Not only that, it has been revealed that FSG are interested in selling the club and newly-appointed sporting director Julian Ward has resigned from his position just six months after taking over from Michael Edwards, so there is due some good news at Anfield.

As a result, securing Bellingham’s services would be a positive step forward in the manager’s pursuit to build the next successful generation of the squad.

The £129m midfielder – who was hailed “one to watch” and “special” by Romano – ranks in the top 6% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, dribbles completed, touches and progressive passes received.

Klopp will surely be watching Bellingham perform for England alongside teammate and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson at the World Cup over the last few weeks and the pair captured the headlines together when they delivered an important goal in the round of 16 clash with Senegal.

With that being said, it won’t be easy to secure the player’s signature as he continues to thrive in front of the world in Qatar and many clubs are interested in signing Bellingham, so Liverpool must do everything they can to beat their competitors.

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Pablo Maia to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by 90min, who claim that Rob Newman has held ‘exploratory talks’ with São Paulo regarding a move for the defensive midfielder ahead of the winter market, with the Premier League side eager to secure an initial loan deal with an option to buy, while the Brazilian outfit are looking for a permanent €10m (£8.6m) sale.

However, the report goes on to suggest that the Hammers are not alone in their interest in the Brazilian, with Fulham having already seen an offer for the 20-year-old rejected by the Série A side, while Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be monitoring the situation of the youngster ahead of launching their own potential move for Maia this winter.

“Mini-Casemiro”

Considering just how impressive Maia was in Brazil last season, coupled with the fact that Declan Rice is being increasingly linked with a move away from the London Stadium next summer, it is not difficult to understand why Newman and David Moyes would be interested in a deal to bring the 20-year-old to east London in January.

Indeed, over his 32 Série A appearances in 2022, the £4.3m-rated talent was in fantastic defensive form, making an average of 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.9 clearances and winning 3.3 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per game.

The “highly-rated” – in the words of Fabrizio Romano – youngster also impressed in possession of the ball, creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to enjoying an average of 51.7 touches, making 0.3 key passes, playing 2.9 long balls and completing 38.7 total passes – at a success rate of 90% – per match.

These returns saw the defensive midfielder average a very respectable Sofascore match rating of 6.85, ranking him as São Paulo’s 19th-best performer in the top flight of Brazilian football – not a bad feat for a player who only turned 20 in January of this year.

Furthermore, as a result of his undoubted potential, Maia has already drawn comparisons to Manchester United’s £70m summer signing Casemiro, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig dubbing the talent a “mini-Casemiro” and listing the Brazilian’s strengths as his “passing, vision, tackling, positioning, anticipation and work rate”.

As such, it is indeed easy to see why West Ham would be interested in a move for Maia in January, as the 20-year-old would not only appear to be a fantastic long-term replacement for Rice in the heart of the Hammers’ midfield, but the youngster could also go on to become a Casemiro-esque talent – something that is undoubtedly an extremely exciting prospect for all at West Ham.