3 5 2 Gooch ahead of O Nien at right wing back. 2 up front. Embleton in midfield with a strong bench. On paper it's a very strong squad.
Lineups Line Ups please log in to view this image Sunderland AFC Starting 11 1 Jon McLaughlin 2 Conor McLaughlin 12 Tom Flanagan 4 Jordan Willis 33 Denver Hume 11 Lynden Gooch 18 George Dobson 8 Dylan McGeouch 17 Elliot Embleton 22 William Grigg 10 Marc McNulty Substitutes 19 Aiden McGeady 13 Luke O'Nien 23 Grant Leadbitter 5 Alim Ozturk 7 Chris Maguire 14 Duncan Watmore 16 Lee Burge
McGeady on the bench? Think he and O'Nien would be in the 11 if most people were picking it. This is a game Sunderland should win, Oxford aren't favoured to do well at all this season. Exactly the kind of game where points were dropped last year.
Maybe saving him for later in the match in a more attacking role? My only, and hopeful guess. Tired of seeing the lad at right back personally.
Not really getting Gooch over O'Nien at WB, what does he have to do to get a game. Time will tell like could be a master stroke.