QPR v Sunderland preview: Van Aanholt cleared for return
Wednesday 21 September 2016 10:07, UK
Patrick van Aanholt will return to the Sunderland squad for Wednesday night's EFL Cup third-round trip to QPR having been given the all-clear by cardiologists.
The full-back was withdrawn from the team to face Tottenham in the Premier League just minutes before kick-off on Sunday on the advice of medics following regulation tests but has since undergone further checks and is free to play.
Striker Jermain Defoe will miss out with a calf problem but would not have played anyway, while winger Adnan Januzaj is suspended as a result of his red card at White Hart Lane and Victor Anichebe continues his search for match fitness.
Young frontman Joel Asoro is back in contention after recovering from a knock.
QPR will be without James Perch.
Defender Perch suffered a knee injury during the 6-0 defeat by his former club Newcastle last week and Rangers are still assessing the damage.
Yeni Ngbakoto could return after missing Saturday's defeat at Huddersfield while on compassionate leave.
Boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink plans to make changes with youngster Osman Kakay, who played in the second round against Rochdale, among those in contention.
Sunderland squad: Pickford, Mika, Love, Manquillo, Djilobodji, O'Shea, Denayer, McNair, Van Aanholt, J. Robson, T. Robson, Cattermole, Kirchhoff, Rodwell, Gooch, Khazri, Pienaar, E. Robson, Asoro, Watmore.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
This is another awkward one for Sunderland. Does this competition matter to them? Another defeat keeps them down and the only way they can change this slump is with results.
If David Moyes plays a strong team and loses then he'll get even more stick, but he needs a result. He might rest Jermain Defoe as the home game against Crystal Palace at the weekend is huge for the Black Cats.
Both sides have been in a bit of a mess and it's not going to be a great game, but I'm going for Duncan Watmore to edge it in the visitors' favour.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: QPR 0-1 Sunderland, Watmore to score first (40/1 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
This is the first League Cup meeting between the two sides.
QPR have won their last three matches against Sunderland in all competitions, conceding just one goal in the process.
This will be QPR's first appearance in the third round of the League Cup since the 2012-13 campaign, where they lost 3-2 at home to Reading.
After reaching the final in 2014, Sunderland have fallen at this stage of the competition in each of the last two seasons.
The Black Cats have won each of their last five League Cup games against sides from a lower division, last losing to Middlesbrough in October 2012.
