Sunderland face an extremely important month heading into April.
The Black Cats find themselves outside the play-off places with seven games left this season.
The gap to Sheffield Wednesday in sixth is two points and the season’s end is drawing ever closer.
Starting with Gillingham this weekend, Alex Neil will be hoping for a good run of form that can turn the club’s season around.
The team will need to overhaul multiple sides in what has become a fiercely competitive field as several sides chase promotion to the Championship.
Here, we look at two dilemmas that face Neil ahead of the side’s return to action this weekend…
Callum Doyle back in the side
Doyle, who is on loan to Sunderland from Manchester City for the season, was only fit enough for the bench last time out for the Black Cats’ 0-0 draw with Lincoln City.
But Doyle had a successful international break, featuring for the full 90 minutes as the England U19 side beat Portugal 2-0 in an U19 UEFA Championship qualifying match.
This could be the boost that Doyle needs to play his way back into contention under Neil.
However, Neil may want to keep things as they were against Lincoln as the team did well to earn a clean sheet.
Doyle has been an important figure for Sunderland this season, despite only being 18-years old, so will be looking to earn his way back into the side as quickly as possible.
Trai Hume to get minutes
The right wing-back has only appeared twice for Sunderland since joining the club in January.
His first start came in February in the team’s 2-1 defeat to Cheltenham.
Hume has not appeared since the 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon, which was just four days after his debut.
But the Northern Irishman did feature for his country for the first time during this international break.
Perhaps that is a sign that he is ready to earn more playing time for the Black Cats going into the end of the season.
The tie with Gillingham would be a good way to introduce him back into the side given the confidence boost he received midweek playing against Hungary.