TONY MOWBRAY will have to shuffle his midfield tomorrow afternoon – but the Sunderland boss claims Dan Neil’s absence from Stoke’s bet365 Stadium could prove to be a ‘blessing in disguise’ for the midfielder.

Having been sent off shortly before half-time in the Wear-Tees derby that preceded the international break, Neil will serve a one-match suspension when Sunderland take on Stoke in the Potteries.

Prior to his dismissal against Boro, the 21-yer-old midfielder had played every minute of every league game, a hefty workload given the packed fixture schedule and Neil’s young age.

After tomorrow’s game, Sunderland head to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City on Tuesday evening before hosting Norwich City at the Stadium of Light next weekend, and Mowbray feels not having to play three games in a week might not be the worst thing for Neil at this stage of the season.

“I think he’s looking forward to a rest,” said Mowbray. “It’s good for him because it is a three-game week, and it is good sometimes for a young player to put his feet up, enjoy and watch the football, and be ready three days later when he is going to be needed. So, that’s not going to be an issue for us.”

Nevertheless, Mowbray will be hoping at least one of Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard or Bradley Dack is available to enhance his options at the heart of midfield.

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The trio all missed the Boro game prior to the international break, but have been able to step up their respective recovery programmes during the last fortnight.

Mowbray was unable to confirm any of the trio as definitely available when he spoke to the press yesterday afternoon, but it would be a surprise if none were able to at least make the squad tomorrow.

“It’s (central midfield) an area of the pitch where we are not endowed with a huge amount of choice,” said Mowbray. “But we will pick a team that I think can go to Stoke and give them problems. Ultimately, with Dan not being there, there will be a space for someone to come in and showcase their talents.”

Tomorrow’s game will see Sunderland go head-to-head with a Stoke side led by former Black Cats boss Alex Neil.

Neil led Sunderland to promotion from League One in the summer of 2021, presiding over the play-off final victory over Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley, but left in acrimonious circumstances at the start of the following season, walking away from Wearside after clashing with those above him over recruitment issues.

The Scot lorded it over the Sunderland support when his Stoke side ran out 5-1 winners at the Stadium of Light last season, so he is expecting a rough reception from the travelling fans at the bet365 Stadium tomorrow.

However, with his own side having been in desperate form, and currently sitting in 21st position in the table, just one place above the relegation zone, it might not be the away supporters that he has to worry about.

“I’ll be getting dog’s abuse from one half – and hopefully we play well so I’m not getting dog’s abuse from two halves,” said Neil, who lost just four of his 25 matches as Sunderland boss. “That’s just the nature of football, isn’t it?

“Obviously, we want to win. We want to play well, we’re at home, and we want to go and try to win the game and get our fans behind us.

“We know we need to get more points on the board – I think that’s really quite clear for everybody to see. Sunderland will come here and they’ll be hoping that they’ll be making it a lot more difficult for me in particular. That’s just the nature of the beast.”

Sunderland (probable, 4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Huggins; Ekwah, Bellingham; Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke; Burstow.