Sunderland will be looking for their first win of the League One season when they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon.

The Black Cats were held to a 1-1 draw against Oxford United at the Stadium of Light on the opening day of the season, with Lynden Gooch scoring a penalty to ensure Sunderland pulled level after Tariqe Fosu's opener.

Sunderland boss Jack Ross deployed a controversial 3-5-2 formation in the season opener, with Sunderland's two most creative outlets Chris Maguire and Aiden McGeady brought on from the bench.

This may have been partly down to the duo not being fully fit, but Ross has now confirmed they are very close to full fitness ahead of Sunderland's first game on the road this campaign.

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So, with this in mind, we predict how Sunderland's starting line-up could look at Portman Road...

I don't think there will be a wholesale change of personnel following the opening day draw, but I am inclined to believe Ross may change his system for Saturday's clash. He may go with a 4-4-2 formation in order to appease supporters at this early stage of the season and use both Maguire and McGeady from the start against a dangerous side.

Starting from the back, there can be little doubt over whether Jon McLaughlin starts in between the sticks as he has established himself as a key figure at the club in recent times. Rather than playing three centre-backs, Ross could opt for a back four of Denver Hume, Jordan Willis, Tom Flanagan and Conor McLaughlin. These players are likely to be more comfortable in a back-four set-up, and it would allow McLaughlin and Hume particularly to play in roles they are more used to.

Ross opted for George Dobson and Dylan McGeouch at the base of Sunderland's midfield against Oxford, and I would expect these players to keep their places on the weekend as Ross is unlikely to make wholesale changes. The big change to the side could come in the form of wingers, with Maguire and McGeady available to be used out wide. These key players will add a creative spark to the Sunderland side, and I think Ross should deploy them to go for a more direct approach.

Marc McNulty and Will Grigg should then reprise their roles as the focal point of Sunderland's attack on the weekend. The Black Cats' new strike force linked up well at times on the opening day, and Ross will surely give them the chance to further develop their partnership at Portman Road on Saturday.

This would be an attacking Sunderland side, but I think this could be what Ross needs to do in order to convince the Sunderland fan base that he is the man for the job going forward.