Sunderland FC face daunting free-hit litmus test against Burnley FC

English Football Championship’s 2021-22 season is fast approaching its end, and this run-in is set to be one of the most exciting in recent years. Burnley FC has been the runaway league leader, unbeaten at home all season and on course for the Championship title. However, it needs 17 points from their final nine games to break the 100-point barrier and win the league.

Injury concerns and lineup changes for the upcoming football game

Sunderland FC will take on Burnley FC, aiming to play with confidence and freedom they’ve had in previous matches. However, it faces a daunting challenge as it seeks to avoid any slip-ups, and face off against an ultra-impressive Burnley side.

Unfortunately for Sunderland FC’s head coach Lee Johnson, several injury concerns have surfaced ahead of this crucial fixture. The team has many senior first-team players unavailable for selection due to injuries. Dan Ballard is still nursing an injury from his Northern Ireland game and won’t feature in this match. With Alese already ruled out for the season, Huggins perpetually sidelined, and Anderson not quite ready for championship football yet; Johnson will need to shake things up.

Cirkin could make his way back into the squad but may find it challenging to come straight back into the starting lineup. Sunderland has Gelhardt as an attacking option but it remains unclear if Johnson will start him or not.

The match is both a free-hit and a litmus test for Sunderland FC

Despite all these injuries concerns and line-up changes, Sunderland enters this game as underdogs with nothing to lose (free-hit) but everything to gain. It presents a chance for them to give a good account of themselves against one of England’s most successful clubs without relegation pressure.

Burnley has been in fantastic form all season, and this match gives Sunderland an opportunity to show off its solid plan and execution. Burnley has a chance to break the 100-point barrier, which adds to the pressure for Sunderland FC.

Burnley FC’s Impressive Season So Far

Burnley’s squad has been overhauled by new boss Vincent Kompany, who introduced more than 20 new players and changed the team’s playing style. They had some early-season jitters but have since settled down to produce one of the best runs in their club history. A win against Sunderland will edge them closer to lifting their first league title in over six decades.

Sheffield United, previously cruising in second place, has hit a bumpy patch and is now just three points ahead of Middlesbrough in third. Fourth-placed Luton is in strong form, while Blackburn is in sixth place and has spent almost the entire season in the top six. Seventh-placed Norwich has failed to win any of its previous three games.

Wigan under pressure

On the opposite side of proceedings, Wigan has had a miserable season both on and off the pitch. They’re sitting bottom of the Championship table with offfield issues taking center stage; a three-point deduction has left them eight points adrift of safety with nine games remaining.

Conclusion

It’s nearly time for the conclusion of another exciting English Football Championship season. Sunderland knows it faces tough opposition from Burnley but still goes into this match, confident in their ability to execute their game plan. It’s a free-hit that could also serve as a litmus test for Lee Johnson’s side as they look to build momentum and avoid any further mishaps from injuries or suspensions.

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