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DISCLAIMER: In the interests of fairness the combined XI has a minimum of five players from each side. It does not take into account injuries and suspensions, and is based purely on the best players from each squad in the standard 4-4-2 formation.
GK: Ben Foster
The Baggies number 1 has had a rough 2016 with injuries, but when fit, he is one of England’s finest.
RB: Javier Manquillo
We’re yet to see the best from Manquillo on Wearside so far, however, the full-back positions at Albion are perhaps just as bad as up here, therefore, Manquillo gets into this XI.
CB: Jonny Evans
A player Sunderland fans will know very well, Evans had two successful loan spells on Wearside and you’d do well to find a Sunderland fan who wouldn’t love to see the Northern Irishman back up North.
CB: Lamine Kone
Kone has been poor since signing his new deal, however, we all know what he is capable of and would walk into the West Brom side with ease.
LB: Patrick Van Aanholt
You know your full-back’s are average when Van Aanholt gets into the XI! Brendan Galloway is young and inexperienced and would be an area for Sunderland to exploit on Saturday.
RM: Matt Phillips
The pacey winger is one of the most underrated players in the two squads and adds natural width and creativity to any side.
CM: Darren Fletcher
A natural leader who has been there and done it for club and country, Fletcher is the sort of player that Sunderland lack at the moment.
CM: Didier Ndong
It may be early days for Ndong but he has been one of very few bright spots to Sunderland’s season so far and has been the pick of the midfield.
LM: Fabio Borini
Our Italian forward is out injured at the minute but is proving to be a huge miss. His work ethic and eye of goal would’ve came in very handy against Crystal Palace last week instead of the wasteful Adnan Januzaj.
ST: Salomon Rondon
Rondon took time to adapt to English football, however, now that the South American has found his feet, he is proving a real handful for defence’s up and down the country and Saturday will be no different.
ST: Jermain Defoe
Our star man has started this season just like he ended last year, with four goals in six games for the veteran who goes into this XI ahead of Berahino.
