Sunderland will seek to get back to winning ways in the Championship on Saturday when they host Chris Wilder's Sheffield United.

The Black Cats made a solid start to the new season with a win and two draws from their first three matches, but things have taken a turn for the worse since then.

Simon Grayson's men lost 2-0 at home to Leeds United before going down 3-0 at Barnsley prior to the international break, and the former Preston boss will thus be expecting a response from his side when newly-promoted Sheffield United visit the Stadium of Light this weekend.

The Blades have impressed in the first few weeks of the season to pick up nine points from their five league games, with victories over Brentford, Barnsley, and Derby County underlining their capabilities at Championship level.

And they will give Grayson's Sunderland quite a test on Saturday when the league season resumes following the international break, although home advantage will see the Black Cats head in as favourites to get all three points.

Ahead of Saturday's clash, we at FootballLeagueWorld have taken over as Sunderland boss and selected the starting XI that will beat Sheffield United this weekend...

Robbin Ruiter

Summer signing Robbin Ruiter replaced fellow summer arrival Jason Steele between the sticks against Barnsley last time out, and it’s fair to say he didn’t have the greatest of afternoons.

The Black Cats lost 3-0 but it’s unlikely that manager Grayson will drop the 30-year-old after just one game - he needs backing, and that would come none more so than seeing his name on the teamsheet against Sheffield United.

Billy Jones

A vastly experienced and accomplished right-back, it wasn’t too long ago that Billy Jones was excelling in the Premier League with both Sunderland and West Brom.

The 30-year-old has played 229 games at Championship level and a further 131 in the top-flight, and having started all five of their league games thus far, and played 90 minutes in all of them, Jones will be in the starting line-up against the Blades on Saturday.

Marc Wilson

Deadline day signing Marc Wilson will bring even greater experience and know-how to the Sunderland backline ahead of the rest of the Championship season.

The 30-year-old joined from Bournemouth last week after falling down the pecking order at the Vitality Stadium, but after spells with the Cherries, Stoke City, and indeed West Brom, the Republic of Ireland international could well turn out to be a shrewd addition at the Stadium of Light.

And he should go straight into the starting line-up on Saturday to shore up a backline that has conceded five goals in their last two league games.

Lamine Kone

Speculation was rife for much of the summer that Lamine Kone would be leaving Sunderland, but the deadline has passed and the centre-back remains at the Stadium of Light.

And that will come as a huge boost to manager Grayson as the 28-year-old’s defensive capabilities are unquestionable, and you could certainly see him and Wilson striking up quite the partnership at the heart of the Black Cats backline.

And with five successive league starts, it’s he who should get the nod to play alongside the new signing on Saturday.

Bryan Oviedo

Brendan Galloway has made an unconvincing start to life on Wearside, and was replaced by former Everton left-back Bryan Oviedo against Barnsley last time out.

And although the Black Cats conceded three at Oakwell, the Costa Rica international arguably performed the best out of the back four, and has likely done enough to keep his place for the visit of Sheffield United.

Lee Cattermole

Sunderland have conceded five goals in their last two Championship games, so having a midfield two including Lee Cattermole just in front of the back four may give them the protection needed in the coming matches.

The 29-year-old is vastly experienced and knows what it means to play for Sunderland, having done so for eight years now, in which time they’ve gone from a side hovering around the Premier League’s mid-table to one slugging it out in the second tier.

His combative and tenacious approach could be what Sunderland need to get back to winning ways on Saturday.

Didier Ndong

Speculation was building towards the end of the transfer window that midfielder Didier Ndong would be leaving Sunderland, yet the deadline has passed and he remains a Black Cats player.

And his efforts at the start of the season suggest that that’s great news for manager Grayson, who has started the Gabon international on all five occasions in the league, playing the full 450 minutes in the process.

Ndong’s form in the middle will be crucial to Sunderland this season, and he’ll almost certainly receive his sixth Championship start of the campaign on Saturday.

Callum McManaman

Sunderland secured a deadline day move for West Brom’s Callum McManaman last week, and their lack of goals in their last few games could see him thrusted into the starting line-up at the weekend.

The former Wigan Athletic winger has struggled for game time at the Hawthorns since moving there in 2015, with no goals in 25 appearances for the Baggies indicative of his plight.

And although things have been a struggle recently, there’s little doubting McManaman’s talents, and a fresh start at Sunderland may bring the best out of him once again.

Jonny Williams

Sunderland also made a move to bring Crystal Palace’s talented midfielder Jonny Williams to the Stadium of Light on deadline day, in what could also prove to be quite the coup from the North East club.

The Wales international has failed to make a Premier League appearance for the Eagles since March 2016 and has since enjoyed loan spells at Nottingham Forest, MK Dons, and Ipswich Town, with there signs at the latter that the 23-year-old was beginning to get back to form.

And that must surely delight Sunderland fans ahead of their return to league action on Saturday.

Aiden McGeady

There are slight concerns over Aiden McGeady’s fitness after picking up an injury on international duty on Saturday, yet if he is indeed fit to play against Sheffield United, he must retain his place.

The 31-year-old, a summer signing from Everton, has scored once and laid on two assists in just five Championship games to underline his importance to the Black Cats side, and it's creativity they need in their bid to snap out of their recent woes and return to winning ways on Saturday.

McGeady scored eight goals and laid on nine assists for Preston North End last term, also under Grayson’s stewardship, how Black Cats fans would love to see him reproduce and better that form this time round!

Lewis Grabban

Striker Lewis Grabban has made an excellent start to his loan spell at Sunderland, so much so that he has already equalled his tally of three goals from last season while on loan at Reading.

The 29-year-old bagged in their 1-1 draw against Derby County on the opening day before netting a brace in the 3-1 success at Norwich City a week later, and although he hasn’t scored in his last three matches, he remains the main striker and the one in form ahead of Sheffield United’s visit.

Thus, Grabban will be leading the line at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.