just in:A new signing begins against Hebburn while the Sunderland man is absent amid transfer rumours.

After knocking on the door for the first squad at the Stadium of Light during the 2023–24 season, Bainbridge wants to play football for the first team. Everton of the Premier League is said to have dispatched scouts to observe the 18-year-old back in March.The 19-year-old defender, who can play left or right back, signed a contract with Sunderland in the summer of 2023; it is presently one year old. However, the Black Cats have the option to extend the contract by a further year, and if it hasn’t already been activated, they should do so.

Whether Bainbridge’s omission is connected to a transfer is yet unclear. Elias Lenz, a former RB Leipzig midfielder, is Sunderland’s newest addition, and Murty has started him.

After spending some time on trial at Wearside towards the close of the previous season, Lenz just signed a two-year contract with the team. Throughout the previous two seasons, the midfielder—who primarily plays as a deep-lying playmaker—captained Leipzig’s U19 team.

Starting eleven: Tutierov, Ogunsuyi, Waters, Jenson Jones, Middlemas, Jenz, Bell, Crompton, Jenson Jones, Chibueze, and Lavery

Richardson, Holcroft, Kindon, Mitchell, Chungh, Walsh, Jaydon Jones, and substitutes