Sunderland v Rochdale preview
Thursday 20 September 2018 17:47, UK
Sunderland striker Charlie Wyke is out of Saturday's League One clash with Rochdale as he faces up to 12 weeks on the sidelines.
Manager Jack Ross has confirmed the summer signing from Bradford has suffered posterior cruciate ligament damage to the knee he injured before his arrival on Wearside and is likely to be out of action for between nine and 12 weeks.
Dylan McGeouch has returned to training after missing last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Burton in which Republic of Ireland international Aiden McGeady made his first appearance of the season as a substitute. Midfielder Max Power will be missing once again as he completes the three-match ban he incurred for his sending-off against Oxford on September 1, while Duncan Watmore continues his fight for fitness.
Rochdale have no fresh injury problems as they head for the Stadium of Light.Keeper Josh Lillis returned to the starting line-up in last Saturday's 3-0 win over Gillingham, while midfielder Jordan Williams was used as a late substitute after recovering from a knee problem.
Republic of Ireland Under-21s defender Ryan Delaney also started following his absence for international duty. Only loan signing Connor Randall, who has returned to parent club Liverpool for treatment after fracturing his cheekbone, is unavailable.
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This will be the first ever meeting between Sunderland and Rochdale in any competition.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last five league games at the Stadium of Light (W3 D2), including all four so far this season. They last went longer without losing at home in the league in December 2010 in the Premier League, a run of nine matches.
Rochdale, who are yet to lose away from home in League One this season (P4 W2 D2 L0), haven't avoided defeat in each of their opening five away league matches to a season since 1999-2000 in the fourth tier.
Sunderland have conceded 88% of their goals in League One this season in the first half of their matches (7/8), the highest ratio in the division. Four of these have come in the opening 10 minutes.
After his hat-trick last time out against Gillingham, Rochdale's Ian Henderson has now been directly involved in more than half of his side's league goals (54%) in 2018-19 (six goals, one assist).
