Sunderland vs Manchester United U21 Predictions

Manchester Utd U21 to win at 10/3

Manchester Utd U21 to win 3-0 at 50/1

• Man Utd U21 will include veteran centre-back Paul McShane, who helped them to a 3-0 win at Bradford City last time out.
• Sunderland are without six first-team players on international duty and Lee Johnson will use Under-23 players only.
• Man Utd have scored five away goals in two previous group matches this season.

Black Cats’ depleted for key group game

Sunderland’s defence of Papa John’s Trophy could get awkward when they face Manchester United U21’s in a pivotal group game at the Stadium of Light. Manager Lee Johnson is set to field a number of youngsters against the Red Devils because he’s without the services of six first-teamers on international duty.

Corry Evans, Tom Flanagan, and Carl Winchester are with Northern Ireland, Dennis Cirkin with England U20s, Callum Doyle with England U19 and Niall Huggins with Wales U21. Johnson is reluctant to use any senior players because the Black Cats travel to Gillingham for a League One fixture less than 72 hours later.

McShane the key to United victory 

One senior player who will be on show will be Manchester United player coach Paul McShane, whose leadership and experience helped United’s kids win 3-0 at Bradford City three weeks ago.

Neil Wood’s team need to win to ensure qualification from Northern Group F, having fallen to a 3-2 defeat against Lincoln City in August when playmaker Hannibal Mejbri was sent off. He can return from suspension in a probable 4-2-3-1 formation that will include ex-Sunderland youngster Joe Hugill at its pointy end.

United’s win price is simply too big to ignore in the circumstances, particularly as McShane’s presence gives them the senior presence Sunderland will lack.

We fancy United could turn on the style against the depleted hosts and recommend a 3-0 correct score bet that mirrors the Bradford win and the scoreline from their U23’s success over Liverpool this month.