Sunderland are set to face their biggest test of this new year as top of the table side Wycombe Wanderers travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Phil Parkinson’s men are now undefeated in their last five league games and are hoping to achieve their first set of back to back wins since August.

Gareth Ainsworth who was linked with the Sunderland job after Jack Ross got the sack, will be hoping his squad can turn around their fortunes on the road with their last away win been at Tranmere Rovers back in November.

The Buckinghamshire side were out of action last weekend due to many League one teams taking part in the FA cup so they will be refreshed and raring to go against the Black Cats who they beat 1-0 earlier on in the season in the reverse fixture at Adams Park.

Joel Lynch looks set to make a return to the squad this weekend after missing the victory over Lincoln due to illness. One man who’s also nearing a return to first-team action is young midfielder Elliot Embleton who’s not featured since the League cup win over Sheffield United earlier on in the season. 

Sunderland will be hoping to keep quiet Wycombe’s main frontman Adebayo Akinfenwa who has netted seven goals and five assists so far this season. 

The Black Cats currently sit ninth in League one with just a point outside the playoffs with a game in hand and six points off automatic places.

A win this weekend could put themselves right back in the frame for promotion which was looking very unrealistic before the Christmas period.