Sunderland boss Simon Grayson will take stock ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash at home to Leeds - live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm - after a gruelling run of three games in seven days.

Grayson has fielded the same starting XI in each of the club's three league fixtures to date and, having claimed five points from a possible nine, is unlikely to make wholesale changes.

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Full-back Bryan Oviedo is back in training after a calf problem, while long-term absentees Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore are expected to return from knee ligament damage after the international break. However, striker Josh Maja is facing up to a month on the sidelines after undergoing surgery to address a niggling knee problem.

Leeds captain Liam Cooper is hoping to return to the starting line-up after missing the goalless midweek home draw against Fulham due to a knock sustained in training. Cooper's absence meant versatile midfielder Conor Shaughnessy stepped into central defence for his first league start on Tuesday night alongside Pontus Jansson.

Fellow centre-half Matthew Pennington (ankle) and right-back Gaetano Berardi (shoulder) are both still out. Midfielders Ronaldo Vieira, Mateusz Klich and Liam Bridcutt, plus forward Kemar Roofe and defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are among those pushing for recalls.

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Opta stats

Sunderland have won three of their last four matches against Leeds in league competition (L1).

Leeds have won seven of their last nine league trips to Sunderland, losing the other two.

Bob Stokoe was in charge of Sunderland and Billy Bremner in charge of Leeds the last time these sides played out a draw in the league, doing so in April 1987. In 20 meetings since, Sunderland have won six and Leeds have won 14.

Leeds have drawn their last two league games nil-nil, they last recorded three in a row back in December 1996.

The Black Cats have recorded a lower share of possession in the opening three matchdays than any other Championship side (36.4%).

Leeds have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 17 away league matches, they last went on a longer run without an away shutout in February 2013 (19 games).

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Prutton's prediction

This is a tough one to call. If this was the first game of the season you would fancy Leeds to go there and turn Sunderland over, but it looks like they've got a bit of steel about them now.

There was such a funky atmosphere at the Stadium of Light, but Simon Grayson will be hoping to keep turning that around with a few wins. He's a low maintenance character and he's lifted them a bit already. I fancy a high-scoring entertaining draw.

Prutton predicts: 2-2 with Lewis Grabban to score first (55/1 with Sky Bet)