Michael Beale could make these changes to his Sunderland lineup for the big test of the Tyne-Wear Derby.

The Sunderland team for today’s lunchtime match is listed below. The former Rangers manager may make two changes from the team that defeated Preston North End the previous game, Bellingham to be benched by Beale

1. GK – Anthony Patterson

Anthony Patterson will be retained in goal for the Tyne-Wear showdown at the Stadium of Light, wanting to keep another clean sheet to thwart Eddie Howe’s Magpies after shutting out Preston last time out.

2. RB – Timothy Pembele

Beale may start Timothy Pembele in place of Aji Alese in the opening lineup alteration; the former PSG player is vying for a start against Newcastle.

Alese may not be risked for the Tyne-Wear Derby as he has only recovered from a significant injury setback, and Pembele is more than capable of taking his place.

Trai Hume would be shifted back to the left-back position, while Pembele would go to the right-back position. Beale wanted his players to be fresh and prepared for the possibility of a full-blooded match against Newcastle.

3. CB – Daniel Ballard

Regardless of changes in personnel elsewhere, Daniel Ballard—an experienced first-team player at the Stadium of Light—will remain on the team.

According to Sofascore, Ballard completed five clearances in the team’s most recent 2-0 victory over Preston. He was also rather effective at winning his fair share of duels, winning five of them in the course of the 90 minutes.

To contain Newcastle’s several crafty attackers, the Black Cats will need Ballard to be at the top of his game. The 24-year-old is prepared for the challenging task at hand.

4. CB – Luke O’Nien

Ballard’s trusty centre-back partner in Luke O’Nien will also start against Newcastle tomorrow lunchtime, O’Nien the sort of player you want on your side in such a tasty affair.

O’Nien will leave everything out on the pitch against the Magpies, wearing the captain’s armband with pride as a stern and aggressive defensive presence.

5. LB – Trai Hume

Hume, who recently played down the left-hand side against Hull City away, won’t have any trouble filling in at left-back for this intense match.

Even though the Lilywhites frequently attacked, the Northern Irishman was outstanding against Preston down his more comfortable right-hand flank, losing only one duel in the 2-0 victory to support his team’s clean sheet and victory.

Beale will be looking for more grit and intensity from Hume against Newcastle, as the 21-year-old might be vital to Sunderland pulling off an upset victory over their fiercest rivals in the top flight.

6.CM – Pierre Ekwah

Since moving to Sunderland this summer, Pierre Ekwah, a former West Ham United player, has been a key player in a holding midfield role versus Newcastle.

Alex Pritchard’s long-range rocket was made possible by his inventiveness from deep against Preston, but Beale will also need Ekwah to be strong in the tackle to protect the Black Cats from being exposed when the Premier League visitors attack with ferocity.

Ekwah, who has defeated the Lilywhites in six of his seven ground battles, will need to support his back four to try and save the hosts the humiliation of being exposed by their bitter neighbors.

7. CM – Dan Neil

Dan Neil can offer more creativity than Ekwah in this holding midfield partnership as a result, the Sunderland youth product turned regular first-teamer onto seven goal contributions this season in Championship action.

Having risen through the ranks at the Black Cats, Neil will also be integral in understanding the magnitude of the Derby match and his passion should ooze out subsequently in a full-throttle display from the lively number 24.

8. RM – Abdoullah Ba

Abdoullah Ba might be Sunderland’s second-choice substitute in the Preston starting lineup, as Patrick Roberts is unlikely to be ready for this weekend’s match against Newcastle.

In Roberts’ sudden absence, Alex Pritchard was selected to start at right flank in the last game. However, since the 30-year-old thrives when drifting into a central role, Beale may choose to start the former Huddersfield Town player at number ten against the Magpies

Ba will be given another shot to impress therefore, the £4k-per-week winger flickering in and out of life against Rotherham United last month when selected with two successful dribbles managed.

9. CAM – Alex Pritchard

Pritchard’s Sunderland career was at danger of fizzling out, but the waning midfielder has since gone on to shine in recent weeks for the Black Cats and demands a starting spot in the team against Newcastle subsequently.

Scoring a wondergoal last time out to get Beale’s men up and running versus Preston, Pritchard has also notched up five assists this season with three of those coming under interim manager Mike Dodds just before the new boss was unveiled.

Jobe Bellingham would drop out as a result, the teenage sensation in need of a rest arguably after playing the majority of the season without ever being given a breather.

Moreover, Beale can trust Pritchard to step up to the mark in such a full-blooded contest as a veteran midfielder who’s been in and around big games like these for some time.

10. LM – Jack Clarke

Jack Clarke is eager to be the hero at the Stadium of Light by scoring a decisive victory in the Tyne-Wear Derby, so he will be hoping to cause the Newcastle full-backs all sorts of trouble tomorrow lunchtime.

If that fantasy came true, Clarke would have already scored 13 goals this season; the dependable Black Cats player is currently performing at his best.

11. ST – Nazariy Rusyn

Nazariy Rusyn, the Ukrainian summer transfer who last time out broke his goal drought, would likewise want nothing more than to score another goal in his still-developing Sunderland career against the Tyneside rivals.