Predicted West Brom team vs Sunderland: First league start for 25 year-old as decisions made on Kyle Bartley and £18m man

West Brom head to Sunderland for an EFL Championship clash in front of the Sky Sports television cameras.

The Baggies drew 2-2 with Norwich City last time out and have become the draw specialists of the division with eight games finishing level involving WBA. Drawing is at least better than losing and West Brom are on an eight-game unbeaten streak.

A win for Carlos Corberan's men this evening would move them to within three points of Sunderland who occupy the second automatic promotion spot. Middlesbrough don’t play until Wednesday evening, and so they’d overtake them with a win up in the North East.

Most recently, West Brom have played with two strikers rather than having that ‘number 10’ role which packs out the midfield. Grady Diangana played no part against Norwich City because of a tight calf complaint. He's been in and out of the starting XI, and so if he is available, it would be best suited he comes off the bench instead.

West Brom predicted XI v Sunderland

Here’s the 11 players we think will line up for West Brom at the Stadium of Light.

GK: Alex Palmer

First choice goalkeeper. Unlikely to be dropped any time soon.

RB: Gianluca Frabotta

A first league start of the season could be on the cards for Frabotta. Darnell Furlong is injured and so the former uventus man potentially will start given Holgate is being played at centre back.

CB: Mason Holgate

Holgate could potentially revert back to his original position depending on Kyle Bartley’s availability. To be on the safe side, Bartley should sit the game out, just so he’s got more than week’s worth of training under his belt.

CB: Torbjorn Heggem

Could find himself playing either at centre back like he has done in recent weeks or potentially at left-back, depending on what happens with Bartley.

LB: Callum Styles

If Kyle Bartley does come back then Heggem would likely be shifted out to left-back. It would leave Styles then either on the bench or replacing one or two out of Mowatt or Molumby.

RM: Jed Wallace

Sunderland have a quite youthful feel to their team. Wallace has been there and done it in this division. With Furlong suspended and Frabotta having not played much football this term, Wallace could start over Fellows.

CM: Jayson Molumby

Mowatt and Molumby have formed a solid partnership in the centre of the park.

CM: Alex Mowatt

For Mowatt, see above.

LM: Mikey Johnston

Just the one goal contribution so far since re-joining, though that did come recently against Hull City. He'll want to recapture the form that he had during his loan spell.

ST: Karlan Grant

Grant is quite a nifty player as he is capable of playing out wide and in a central position. Given the wide options West Brom currently have, Grant has been able to find a way in to the team as a central player.

ST: Josh Maja

The ten-goal striker might have a point to prove against his former club. He left mid-season to join Bordeuax, having scored 15 goals in 24 games. He might get a mixed reception, despite his desire to stay at the Stadium of light.