Dugout Discussion

Sunderland v Leeds team news: No Ballard, visitors unchanged

28 December 2025 242 comments
avfc82 avfc82
Share:

Sunderland face Leeds United in the first of two Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off at the Stadium of Light is at 14:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Regis Le Bris makes just one change from last week’s goalless draw at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Dennis Cirkin earns his first start of the season, with Dan Ballard absent from the matchday squad due to injury.

This adjustment will likely see Nordi Mukiele move to centre-back, with Trai Hume, Omar Alderete and Cirkin joining him in the back four.

Further forward, Brian Brobbey is selected over Wilson Isidor for the third consecutive match.

Daniel Farke, as expected, sticks with the same line-up that thrashed Crystal Palace last time out.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will once again spearhead the attack, as he seeks to score for the sixth consecutive match.

Positional rival Lukas Nmecha is fit enough to make the bench, however, having missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury.

LINE-UPS

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Rigg, Le Fee, Adingra, Brobbey

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Mayenda, Isidor, Mundle, Hjelde, H Jones, J Jones, Tutierov

Leeds United XI: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Ampadu, Stach, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor

Subs: Darlow, Justin, Bornauw, Gruev, Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha

price change predictions
242 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Need a dead rubber 0-0 to save my season.

    Open Controls
    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      As Roefs, Mukiele and Le Fee owner, I'd take it

      Open Controls
    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Very much this!

      Open Controls
    3. TiAgoFPL
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Mukiele 24 pts haul

      Open Controls
      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 17 days ago

        This or twinge before kick off and bench

        Open Controls
    4. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      1-1 with goals from Aaronson and Rigg

      Open Controls
  2. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Sels to start this week?

    Open Controls
    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Probably no

      Open Controls
  3. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Dom hatty please

    Open Controls
  4. Punned It
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 17 days ago

    What's this Ballard injury, then?

    Open Controls
    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/27478050

      Open Controls
    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Spoilt my day. I now have no players left, get Senesi off the bench and it will likely cost me my cup tie.

      Open Controls
    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Out for up to 5 games, they said on the radio I think.

      Open Controls
    4. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Cheers. Seems Mukiele will be in before long, then.

      Open Controls
  5. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Hartman to Dorgu for BB, then HWilson to Rogers/Gordon the following week?
    Tho means no Chelsea or Newcastle this week…

    Verb/Dub
    Timber/VVD/OReilly/Rodon/Hartman
    Saka/Foden/Cunha/HWilson/Potts
    Haaland/Ekitike/Thiago

    Open Controls
    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      I said you should have BB this week, with Dub you'd have been quids in.

      I think you over think this game, most weeks.

      Open Controls
      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 17 days ago

        Mate I started Dub and have Rodon coming in for Timber so it was good call not to BB GW18

        Open Controls
        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 17 days ago

          You got him there tbf 😆

          Open Controls
  6. Babit1967
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    I take it DCL is the Leeds penalty taker?

    Open Controls
    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Probably yes but I would give Nmecha some pen share when both are on

      Open Controls
      1. Babit1967
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 17 days ago

        Gotcha

        Open Controls
  7. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    A)Lammens and Dorgu(means playing Tavernier)
    B)Verbruggen and Van Hecke(will mean I can bring in Gravenberch for Tavernier)

    Both options are -4

    Open Controls
  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    I've currently got 4 points in defense with Mukiele in play. ...

    And I benched 22 defender/goalkeeper points, one of those weeks!

    Open Controls
    1. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 17 days ago

      I guess half of those are from Dubravka, I bet many are in a similar position, just unlucky it happened in a relatively popular BB week.

      Open Controls
      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 17 days ago

        Yeah

        11 Dub
        8 Heaven
        3 van Hecke

        I thought about playing Heaven but selected him first bench

        I had a thought that Burnley could hold Everton but never really thought about starting him over Raya

        Just one of those things that my usual defence has blanked so far.

        Open Controls
  9. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Hope Rodon is ok to continue still limping

    Open Controls
  10. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    The Defcon Derby

    Open Controls
  11. Prinzhorn
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    I hate this game.

    Open Controls
    1. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Noted

      Open Controls
  12. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Tavernier to Gravenberch for a hit?

    Open Controls
    1. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      No

      Open Controls
    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Nah

      Open Controls
  13. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Rodon coming for Timber was fun lol

    Open Controls
    1. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Totally NSFW lol

      Open Controls
  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Rodon could be done

    Open Controls
  15. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    They're trying to destroy my autosub ffs

    Open Controls
  16. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    What a f brute foul, what an idiot

    Open Controls
  17. dansmith1985
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Trade out Hincapie or Van Hecke for Dorgu?

    Open Controls
    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Hincapie given the the return of Gabriel, assuming Calafiori isn’t out for long though

      Open Controls
  18. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Guys pick one please

    A) Andersen(5th def) & Semenyo ---> Drogu & Cunha (-4)

    B) Timber & Semenyo ----> Dorgu and Cunha(-4) leaves money itb for vvd to gabriel

    C) Saka ---> Cunha (free)

    Open Controls
  19. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    How little do you need to know about football as a ref to see that that challenge is late and reckless? Easy YC

    Open Controls
    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Yeah, disgraceful level

      Open Controls
  20. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Adingra goal

    Open Controls
  21. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    adingra g
    xhaka a

    Open Controls
    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Tight for offside

      Open Controls
  22. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Totally deserved for leeds

    rodon's been struggling for the past 15 mins and they continue to play him like they're out of subs

    Open Controls
  23. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Is it offside?

    Open Controls
    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Could be

      Open Controls
    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Nah

      Really well timed

      Open Controls
  24. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Xhaka assist so bound to be chalked off

    Open Controls
    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Brilliant pass

      Slipped it in

      Great goal

      Open Controls
  25. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    Given

    Open Controls
  26. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    what a complete waste of everyone's time. just go off idiot

    Open Controls
  27. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 17 days ago

    RodOFF

    Open Controls
  28. z13
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Rodon sub, Timber replacement flop

      Open Controls
    • NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Floodgate open!

      Open Controls
    • Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 17 days ago

      Game is all luck

      Open Controls
      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 17 days ago

        dont tell me u expected points from rodon

        Open Controls

    You need to be logged in to post a comment.