Chris Coleman gives biggest hint yet about his Sunderland team selection for Saturday’s game

Much of the discussion amongst Sunderland supporters since our draw with Bristol City has been around the type of team and system that Chris Coleman will select when we face of with 10th-placed Brentford this coming weekend.

There have been calls for the former Wales boss to go back to a more traditional system that employs a back four as opposed to a back five, with it clear to many observers that the system we’ve utilised for the majority of Coleman’s tenure hasn’t necessarily been as successful as we might have hoped.

Having struggled to both score goals and keep them out of our own net, particularly in recent weeks, many fans have pondered the possibility of a return to a more simplistic system that also enables us to get some creative wide-players back into the team, and today in a conversation with the club’s official website Coleman gave his biggest hint yet that there’ll be a change in style when we take to the pitch at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

In his interview today with SAFC.com, the Sunderland manager said:

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to look at us on Saturday and think, alright maybe they won’t start with three at the back... I don’t mind giving that away - maybe we will, maybe we won’t, that is definitely a possibility.

One player that comes into contention is Aiden McGeady, who has been showing in recent weeks why he should be playing games in his appearances from the bench, and Coleman hinted that the Republic of Ireland international may well start on Saturday:

He looked good, Aiden, on Saturday - looked bright and sharp. He made some great passes, scored a great goal, quick thinking. When he’s in that type of form you can’t not pick him. I was really pleased with him.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

The Sunderland manager also confirmed that Callum McManaman comes back into contention having missed out through injury for the last three weeks, as are Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair, who played last weekend for the U23s on their own path towards recovery.

Lamine Kone has trained this week and will be assessed for the rest of the week before consideration is given over whether or not he plays any part against Brentford.