Sunderland take on West Ham United in their first Premier League match in eight years and a number of players could make their debuts this weekend
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka could make his debut for Sunderland this weekend
It's been just over 3,000 days since Sunderland were last in the Premier League and this weekend will bring an end to their eight-year absence from the top flight.
Regis Le Bris' Black Cats are on course to spend the most money in any summer transfer window by a newly-promoted side. Enzo Le Fee's move to the Stadium of Light was made permanent after winning the Championship play-off final, with Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava, Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs, Marc Guiu, Arthur Masuaku and Omar Alderete also joining the club.
The Black Cats have spent around £132 million and are looking to put their stamp on the top flight. They'll take on West Ham United at the Stadium of Light in front of a sold out crowd.
Sunderland know they'll have to upset the odds to avoid relegation. Starting with a win on home soil against Graham Potter's side would be a real statement.
But after bringing in 11 new players, Le Bris has a number of key decisions to make. ChronicleLive has taken a look at what the matchday squad could look like ahead of Saturday.
In goal, it's likely that Robin Roefs will make his first competitive appearance start between the sticks given Anthony Patterson has struggled with an injury in pre-season and not had many minutes. In defence, there are a few tricky decisions to make.
The defence that took on Augsburg in Germany will most likely be the starting back four, though Jenson Seelt is the one player who could make way for new arrival Alderete. Le Bris' comments last week suggest the young Dutchman will be given an opportunity to show his worth given his Paraguayan teammate has only just arrived on Wearside.
Robin Roefs
New Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs(Image: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
That means Trai Hume and Dan Ballard retain their place from the starting XI that won the play-off final, with new arrival Reinildo playing at left-back.
Xhaka is expected to captain the side and Sadiki has been one of the standout performers in midfield. Starting the young DR Congo international alongside the experienced midfielder means there'll be plenty of energy.
Habib Diarra is likely to start on the right-hand side of the midfield trio, becoming the fourth debutant. There are a number of decisions to make in the final third, including who leads the line and who operates in the flanks?
Starting with the main man, Eliezer Maydenda would be our starting striker based on pre-season displays with Marc Guiu not yet fit enough to begin games. On the wings, you'd expect Simon Adingra to start, but there are question marks over Talbi and whether or not he is ready to.
Which means, we could see Le Fee start out on the left as we did last season, though it's not something Le Bris has done in pre-season. Moving Adingra out to the right means Sunderland can name a really strong starting XI.
Unlike at times last season, the Black Cats have plenty of options to change things from the bench. Chris Rigg, Wilson Isidor, Patrick Roberts, Dan Neil Guiu, Masuaka, Alderete and Talbi can come off the bench and combining the worth of the nine substitutes, Sunderland could use £90.4m worth of players on to impact the game, if it's the one we predict, based on transfer fees and transfermarkt valuations.
Sunderland starting XI: Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki, Diarra; Le Fee, Mayenda, Adingra.
Subs: Pattison, Alderete, Masuaka, Neil, Roberts, Rigg, Talbi, Guiu, Isidor.