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Sunderland return to action in the Championship this afternoon as they face promotion-chasing Luton Town at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats have lost four of their last five matches in the division and will be hoping to head into the upcoming international break on a high.

Tony Mowbray's side were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United, despite taking the lead through Edouard Michut, on Wednesday night and there could be at least one change for the head coach to make.

Luke O'Nien started the game at left-back and was forced off with an injury in the 87th minute, which could cause him issues ahead of today's match.

Speaking about the defender's situation, Mowbray said:

"I think it was just a kick and a clash, and yet it is a bit concerning because Luke O'Nien isn't somebody who would be hobbling about or staying down from an injury, so we'll see over the next day or two."

However, the head coach later added that the defender should be "okay" to be in the squad.

Who could replace Luke O'Nien?

With natural left-backs Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese out, the Black Cats manager must avoid risking aggravating any issue for O'Nien by handing a start to January signing Joe Anderson.

Although the versatile ace may be 'okay', there is no need to risk him when there is another player in Anderson who could step in. While the 22-year-old plays in the heart of the defence by trade, the Englishman is also capable of playing at left-back.

He has been deployed as a full-back in 23 matches in his youth career – along with a further 65 at centre-back – and this suggests that the enforcer is comfortable featuring on the flank.

Anderson could also improve the team's build-up play out from the back, with Mowbray describing him being a naturally left-footed player as a "rarity" upon his arrival.

O'Nien – a right-footed gem – only created one chance in his last four appearances and the ex-Everton man produced 0.8 key passes per match in the EFL Trophy earlier this term.

The 22-year-old, who made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the EFL Trophy this season, did catch the eye in his cameo against Millwall last month – making four tackles and interceptions in just 12 minutes on the pitch.

Journalist Josh Bunting once hailed the defender as "impressive" and his statistics in his short Championship debut proved that he has the potential to be just that in the second tier.

Therefore, Mowbray must unleash the battler in place of O'Nien he could be an excellent stand-in at left-back with his defensive and creative ability.

David Moyes is a man under serious pressure at West Ham, with Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Brighton a clear reminder that the Hammers are in a relegation battle this season.

Should Moyes be sacked by West Ham?

The Scottish manager has perhaps survived due to his successes in previous seasons at the London Stadium, with the Hammers reaching the Europa League semi-final last season, as well as a top-eight finish in the Premier League.

However, this domestic season has been something of a disaster for the east London outfit, as they find themselves battling at the bottom of the league, with just six wins to their name from their 25 league fixtures.

It was suggested ahead of West Ham’s 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest that a bad result could see Moyes lose his job, which he managed to avoid, but after successive losses to Manchester United and Brighton, it is surely only a matter of time until the 59-year-old is given the boot.

Incidentally, the man who was on the end of that 4-0 thrashing at the London Stadium could be the ideal successor to Moyes at the London Stadium.

Should West Ham hire Steve Cooper?

According to the Daily Mail, a number of Premier League sides have shown interest in Steve Cooper as a result of his impressive work at Nottingham Forest, with West Ham one side name-checked as a potential destination for the 43-year-old.

The Welshman first rose to prominence as manager of England U17s, with whom he won the World Cup back in 2017, helping to establish senior England players such as Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi.

He would then take over at Swansea City, where he led the Welsh outfit to successive Championship playoff campaigns, averaging an impressive 1.61 points per game and narrowly missing out on promotion back to the Premier League.

A third playoff campaign would follow with Nottingham Forest, as he produced an incredible turnaround with the Midlands club before steering them back to the Premier League.

The Reds started slowly but have given themselves a real chance of staying up in the top flight, and Cooper was rewarded with a new contract in 2022, despite them slipping to the bottom of the table at the time.

That faith has been rewarded by some impressive recent performances by Forest, and it is no surprise that several Premier League sides are keeping a close eye on him ahead of the summer.

Speaking live on BBC 606, pundit Chris Sutton praised Cooper following their win against Leeds, saying: “It’s sort of outrageous, the amount of players that Nottingham Forest has signed, isn’t it?

“But the end justifies the means and Steve Cooper has done an amazing job gelling all these players together.”

Considering Cooper has averaged 1.69 points per game in his time at the City Ground, compared to Moyes’ 1.52 points per game at West Ham, despite having a poorer squad on paper, the Hammers should definitely consider bringing the Welshman to the London Stadium.

Indeed, he could well be a big upgrade should their current manager be sacked.

Southampton could make a move for Flamengo manager Vitor Pereira, with either the Saints or Leeds United already submitting an enquiry.

The Lowdown: Search underway

After parting ways with Nathan Jones, it appeared as though Southampton were poised to bring in Jesse Marsch, however negotiations broke down over the length of the contract, and they will now have to look elsewhere.

An in-house appointment could be an option, with interim boss Ruben Selles saying he is ‘ready to be the number one’, however other managers continue to be linked, with Pereira now emerging as a potential option.

The Latest: Pereira enquiry?

According to a report from Mundo Rubro Negro (via Sport Witness), a Premier League club has made an enquiry about the Flamengo boss, with the Saints and Leeds currently the only two teams without a manager.

It is detailed that if an official proposal is presented, the 54-year-old could ask to leave, as it his dream to manage in the English top flight, although a termination fee would be required.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The Portuguese tactician favours an attacking 4-3-3 formation, which indicates that he could be an exciting appointment for Southampton, who would bring a forward-thinking brand of football to St Mary’s.

Having won eight trophies in his managerial career, including two league titles with FC Porto, the Espinho-born coach has a proven history of success, although his most recent triumph was a Chinese Super Cup in 2018/19.

Given the perilous league position the Saints currently find themselves in, it is probably not the time to bring in someone who has never managed in England before, and they should give Selles the chance to prove himself, as he has the advantage of already knowing the squad.

Southampton might look to renew their interest in Torino manager Ivan Juric just a few months after deeming the price too high to prise the Croatian away from Serie A.

What’s the latest on Southampton’s managerial hunt?

The Premier League strugglers have been wayward this season, bottom of the division and four points adrift of safety, and the club are now seeking to appoint their third permanent manager of the term, following the dismissals of Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones.

According to the Daily Mail, Juric has indeed been distinguished once again, with the Saints resigned to parting with a greater amount in compensation in order to land the manager best fit to turn the ship around.

Jesse Marsch, who was recently sacked by Leeds United, has also been under consideration; and while a move for the American might be financially favourable, the most auspicious pathway from a footballing standpoint may lie with the sagely Juric.

Is Ivan Juric the man for the job?

Juric’s arresting tactical vision could be of the perfect mould to belatedly shape a new era at Southampton – progressive runs and a suffocating approach reminiscent of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, direct and vertical surging runs made with lightning speed to hit teams on the counter; and a dynamic, intrinsic understanding of the manner in which the collective squad must carry themselves, maintaining shape when possession has been squandered.

It is a complex and erudite system, and failure to transfer this to England could possibly leave Juric branded as too clever by some observers. However, should it be successfully imprinted into the brains of the squad, the Saints would reap the rewards of a rejuvenation which could negate the threat of relegation over forthcoming campaigns.

At Torino, the 47-year-old led his team to a tenth-place finish in the Italian top flight last season, overcoming two worrying campaigns prior to that which left the club narrowly staving off relegation on both occasions.

In the current campaign, Il Toro are eighth after 22 matches and eyeing a potential Europa Conference League finish for 2023/24. These fruitful endeavours have been achieved despite the club making a net profit on the transfer front across the last two seasons with Juric at the helm.

If Southampton can succeed in their pursuit of the 47-year-old, a relentless and high-octane new approach could galvanise a beleaguered team and give them a renewed vigour.

Torino forward Nikola Vlasic, with words relayed by journalist Steven Moore, heralded his manager for his “famous” style of play, saying: “Ivan Juric and his famous style of football were factors for me to come to Torino, but not the only factors. I like the club, I like Italian football, and I like the city.”

With a discernible allure to the project, the St Mary’s hierarchy must ensure that the club can prosper from Juric’s tactics in order to save their season.

Hasenhuttl was dismissed in November with the club on a downward spiral, and his replacement Jones could not have been an appointment wider of the intended mark – the much-maligned former Luton Town boss lost seven of eight Premier League outings, and Southampton are now in a gravely concerning position.

Saints CEO Martin Semmens would certainly welcome a new head coach who can point Southampton out of trouble quickly, and trusting in Juric’s ‘famous’ philosophy could be a move worth making with their top-flight status very much on the line.

Tottenham Hotspur are following the potential availability of the Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest?

The Lilywhites made two signings in the January transfer market and addressed their options in attack as well as at right wing-back.

However, Carrasco was a name which was loosely linked with Spurs back in the summer with the north London club looking to add down their left side.

And now it seems as if the Belgian could be set for a summer exit with Barcelona holding a clause which gives them first priority over whether they’d like to sign him in the upcoming window.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the north London club are one of the teams outside of Spain who have been following the 29-year-old’s availability:

“We can mention that also English clubs are following the situation because Barcelona have this priority clause but in case they will decide not to proceed for Carrasco there are also other clubs keeping an eye on the player.

“We know that Tottenham have always been following him but also Manchester United are tracking Carrasco’s situation and so keep an eye also on English clubs for Carrasco.”

Double deal?

Interestingly, it appears as if Tottenham have been chasing the winger since all the way back in 2015.

It is also interesting to hear the reports suggesting this may not be the only Atleti player who Spurs could potentially make a move for in the summer.

There have been some suggestions that the Lilywhites are eyeing a potential double deal which could also include the experienced goalkeeper, Jan Oblak.

These claims have emerged following the two clubs doing business – of sorts – last month by Spurs terminating Matt Doherty’s contract to allow him to make the move to the Spanish capital.

This came after Spurs had hit their loan limit meaning a temporary move to Atleti was off the cards for Doherty but the north London club made it work which saw Atletico sign Doherty as a free agent.

However, we do question whether the recent arrival of Arnaut Danjuma may affect this believed interest in the Belgian.

It cannot be denied, Carrasco has not been in the best of form this season with just on goal to his name in his 18 La Liga appearances (via Transfermarkt).

Adding to this, Danjuma has already gotten off the mark – albeit against Preston North End – after just 19 minutes in a Spurs shirt.

So it would seem as if that position could potentially be filled for next season if Danjuma continues to impress.

But given the deal to bring the Dutchman to Tottenham was only an initial loan, if he fails to kick on, we do wonder whether Carrasco could be a player they look at more thoroughly ahead of the summer.

George Caulkin has claimed on Pod on the Tyne that Newcastle United are thinking of the long-term plan amid their inability to sign a midfielder last month.

The Lowdown: Newcastle in a risky situation

The Magpies were seemingly left a bit shocked near the end of the January transfer window when Nottingham Forest swooped for Jonjo Shelvey, which has now left them very short in the midfield department.

While Newcastle were linked with midfielders on deadline day such as Sander Berge and Conor Gallagher, PIF seemingly didn’t believe they were the right deals for Newcastle to do in January.

This is a sensible approach from a financial point of view as it will allow Newcastle to go big in the summer and improve their squad when they have more time to do business, however, it does leave Eddie Howe in a tough spot.

The Latest: PIF acting sensibly off the pitch

Despite fans likely being worried by the lack of a new midfielder coming in last month, Caulkin believes it’s because of the long-term plan PIF are working with on Tyneside.

He said: “I think their priority before the window was a defensive midfielder, and they haven’t got a defensive midfielder. And that is thrown into sharper focus, of course, with what happens with Bruno in the match, who will now be missing for three games.

“What we have to remember – and certainly what the club will say privately – is that they’re trying to build something long-term here.

“Of course, they want to get in the Champions League, and if they can get in the Champions League this season, nobody is going to turn that down – but they have a long-term plan.

“The idea is not to get in the Champions League once; the idea is to get in the Champions League, full stop. That’s easier said than done when you look at the teams in the top six, of course. And the dilemma I think they felt in terms of that position was there weren’t great candidates available, there wasn’t a deep talent pool – certainly not for decent money.”

The Verdict: Howe must manage a fine balancing act

Howe insisted to the media that he wanted to make more signings during January, although he did also admit that he wouldn’t just be bringing in another player for the sake of it after losing Shelvey.

That shows Howe and the club’s owners are on the same page in that they wish to improve the squad whenever possible, but want to make sure they bring in the right sort of characters to help their growth.

Newcastle are very thin in midfield as things stand with Jonjo Shelvey having left, and with Bruno Guimaraes now missing the next three games, Howe is left with few options to call upon.

So perhaps just one loan deal could have been enough as they’re arguably an injury away from a crisis on Tyneside, which would be a huge blow given how well their season has gone thus far.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Mark McGuinness being recalled by Cardiff City would be a ‘huge blow’, according to journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Return on the cards?

The Republic of Ireland youth international arrived at the Hillsborough Stadium over the summer after putting pen to paper on a season-long loan from the Bluebirds.

Darren Moore quickly made the centre-back a regular feature in League One, but after an impressive start to the season, recent reports have suggested that the Welsh outfit are set to recall the 22-year-old before the end of the window.

The Latest: Howson’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Howson was gutted to hear the news that McGuinness could potentially depart, though insisted that finding a suitable successor has to be high on the club’s priority list. He wrote:

“McGuinness leaving is a huge blow. #SWFC have to bring in two centre-backs this month to ensure they have got enough cover at the back for the rest of the season.

“I’m sure DM and the recruitment team will have been working hard behind the scenes to line up a MM replacement.”

The Verdict: Setback for Moore

McGuinness has been integral at the heart of Wednesday’s defence this campaign so it would be a huge setback for Moore to lose him in the weeks ahead.

The Owls star currently averages 5.4 aerial wins and 3.1 clearances per league game and is an absolute rock standing at 6 foot 3 (WhoScored).

The Yorkshire side won’t want to let the Slough-born talent leave, but it’s important that they do make a couple of new signings in case he is set to return to the Championship.

Glasgow Rangers are interested in a move for Royal Antwerp defender William Pacho this month, according to reports from Belgium.

The Lowdown: Beale’s first transfer window

Michael Beale was confirmed as the Light Blues’ manager in November, so January will present him with his first opportunity to bring some of his own players to Ibrox as he begins building his long-term project at the club.

The Premiership giants already have plenty of options at centre-back, including the likes of Ben Davies and Connor Goldson, but that doesn’t appear to have stopped Beale from wanting to add further defensive reinforcements.

The Latest: Rangers eyeing Pacho

According to Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad (via Glasgow World), Rangers are ‘keen on signing’ Pacho after ‘impressing’ under Mark van Bommel this season.

The Ecuadorian has reportedly ‘emerged as a target’ for Beale, with the 21-year-old offering ‘competition’ for places, as well as a ‘path to the future’.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Ross Wilson will know that he needs to invest in the squad if he wants Rangers to seriously compete with their Glasgow arch-rivals, so wrapping up a deal for Pacho seems a no-brainer.

The Belgian Pro League star is averaging 2.6 clearances and 2.1 tackles per 90 minutes and also provides an aerial threat with his height, standing at 6 foot 3 (WhoScored).

Pacho has been dubbed a ‘fantastic signing’ for Antwerp by Jacek Kulig, and he is someone who would certainly seem able to firm up Beale’s defence should he put pen to paper at Ibrox in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa have begun life under Unai Emery extremely well, looking rejuvenated under the Spaniard as they claimed two Premier League wins from his first three matches before the World Cup break, equalling Steven Gerrard’s win total in eight fewer matches.

The honeymoon period won’t last long, however, and with games coming thick and fast from Boxing Day, Emery will need to maintain this momentum in order to drag Villa away from trouble.

Thoughts will now turn to the transfer window and the 51-year-old will have a few targets in mind in order to strengthen his squad. The club have been linked with a move for Stefan de Vrij recently and he could form a formidable duo with Diego Carlos on his return from injury.

A monster duo

Villa signed Carlos in the summer from Sevilla following an excellent 2021/22 campaign. The defender averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09/10 for his performances and he was an integral part of the side that managed to keep 13 clean sheets in La Liga.

Not only that, but he also averaged an impressive 3.5 clearances per game, one tackle per match and won 62% of his total duels, suggesting his physicality was a key strength.

Unfortunately, the Brazilian was injured while playing in just his second Premier League match and it looked like he would miss the majority of the campaign. He travelled to Dubai to train with the squad ahead of the second half of the season however and could return sooner rather than later.

Having conceded 22 goals league goals already, it’s clear the defence needs to be strengthened and for just €5m (£4m), they could land De Vrij.

This season, the Dutchman has been solid for Inter Milan, averaging two interceptions, three clearances and one tackle per match, while using his colossal 6 foot 3 frame to win 68% of his aerial duels, and there is no doubt he and Carlos could form a superb duo at the heart of the Villa defence.

Indeed, the 30-year-old has been dubbed a “monster” by former Lazio teammate Mauricio, and he also lavished “excellent” praise on the centre-back with it evident De Vrij is well respected by other players.

Emery could give the Villa side a big boost if he manages to convince the Inter defender to leave Serie A for the Midlands, and it would certainly improve their woeful defence with a potential monster duo being created at the back by the Spanish tactician.

Newcastle United are likely using this current halt to proceedings to plot potential new recruits ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, with Eddie Howe’s side hoping to further enhance their chances of Champions League qualification with a handful of quality additions.

One area that may well be something of a “priority” – in the words of journalist Craig Hope – is the central midfield berth, with the Magpies arguably in need of more strength in depth to help ease the burden of Brazilian sensation, Bruno Guimaraes.

The Tynesiders could well find a potential solution to that problem in the form of Benfica starlet, Enzo Fernandez, with the 21-year-old currently showcasing his talent for Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar.

Reports earlier this month suggested that the playmaker had been a target for the St James’ Park outfit over the summer prior to his move to Lisbon, with the exciting talent having departed former club River Plate for an initial fee of around £8.6m.

Such has been the youngster’s early impact during his time in Portugal, recent reports have now claimed that the five-cap gem – who is also attracting interest from Manchester United – could now command a far higher price, with his release clause set to stand at around €120m (£103m).

That cost may well have been warranted such has been the player’s impact for the Primeira Liga outfit in the early months of the new campaign, having scored three goals and laid on five assists in all competitions thus far, after previously netting ten times and chipping in with seven assists in his homeland last term.

A truly dynamic midfield presence, Fernandez notably ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes, as per FBref, as well as in the top 1% for attempted passes as a marker of his desire to initiate attacks for his side.

That quality has now been replicated at international level as the 5 foot 10 sensation “announced himself on the world stage” – in the words of journalist Casey Evans – during his nation’s triumph over Mexico on Saturday evening, having scored a “ridiculous” goal to seal the win on the night, according to Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic.

The creative gem produced a stunning, curling finish late on to wrap up a vital three points for the South American nation, having more than made his mark off the bench to help bolster his side’s chances of progression.

Not only was it his goal that caught the eye, however, with the San Martin-born ace having showcased his all-round talent after entering the fray early in the second half, notably winning three of his five ground duels having helped give his side a ‘foothold’ in the game, according to the Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella.

Such a showing has only further illustrated just why Howe and co were keeping tabs on his services previously, with it perhaps wise for Newcastle to firm up their interest in the New Year.