WHAT are the key issues that could see Sunderland get the result they need against Leicester City?

DON’T EXPECT LEICESTER TO FIRE

There is no doubting that Leicester City still have the quality to threaten Sunderland’s goal – but they have not been as clinical of late.

The Foxes are, though, still grinding out results and five of their last six matches have ended in them winning 1-0. Claudio Ranieri, the Leicester boss, and his squad would certainly settle for that.

But Sam Allardyce, the Sunderland manager, will be encouraged by that statistic going into a fixture which his side are desperate to win; a draw in many respects will not be good enough for them.

Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Shinji Okazaki are the attacking triumvirate for Sunderland to worry about, given the way they approach the game. If those players can fire blanks, then the foundations will have been laid for a surprise result in the Premier League title race.

DEFENSIVE FRAILITY

The problem with Sunderland, however, is that they have struggled to keep a clean sheet all season. Last weekend’s goalless draw with West Brom was their first since late November, highlighting why they have struggled to climb clear of trouble.

The mere fact Sunderland stopped the Baggies from scoring, however, should have given every player a boost after showing that they can actually do it. They had only conceded one goal in three of their previous four matches also.

Allardyce has made them harder to beat, that is not up for debate, and Leicester could find it hard to find a way past a defence which has seen Lamine Kone and Younes Kaboul grow in strength at the heart of the defence in recent weeks.

There remains question marks over some of goalkeeper Vito Mannone’s decisions, but if the men in front of him can continue to show greater resilience then Leicester might not have it their own way.

THE JACK RODWELL DILEMMA

IT was a surprise to see Jack Rodwell’s return to fitness and improved form lead to him being left out of the West Brom game last week.

But it is easy to understand why Lee Cattermole, with his desire and determined approach, was recalled to the starting line-up even if he is playing further forward under Allardyce these days.

Cattermole - who has played some nice balls through for leading scorer Jermain Defoe - will almost certainly start again after impressing last week, so what of Rodwell? Another game on the bench?

It would look that way, although Yann M’Vila – arguably the team’s best player in the first half of the season – has suffered his own dip in form and how Sunderland could do with the Frenchman recapturing his best again to boost the relegation fight.