PREM: Sunderland v Manchester City preview

Sunderland v Manchester City preview

Sunderland will look to trigger their annual great escape act when they host free-scoring Manchester City.

We are 204 days into the season and Sunderland have spent 189 days in the relegation places (93 per cent) including each of the last 176 days since September. However, last season, Sunderland spent a Premier League high 237 days of the 281-day long season in the bottom three (84 per cent) but still survived.

City are looking to do the double over Sunderland for the fourth straight season and come into the game unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions (W6 D2), having scored 23 goals in that period including 10 in last two games.

 

Sunderland utility man Jason Denayer will sit out against parent club Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Denayer is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement, although central defender Papy Djilobodji returns to contention after serving a four-match ban.

Keeper Vito Mannone has recovered from illness and Billy Jones is available after having stitches in a head wound, but Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is being assessed and the game will come too soon for midfielders Jan Kirchhoff (knee) and Steven Pienaar (calf). Paddy McNair, Duncan Watmore, Victor Anichebe (all knee) and Lee Cattermole (hip) are still out.

 

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is back in contention for Sunday's Premier League clash.

Defender Aleksandar Kolarov is also fit again after a hamstring injury while Willy Caballero could return in goal after Claudio Bravo featured in the FA Cup in midweek.

Striker Gabriel Jesus (foot) and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (knee) are both long-term casualties.