English Premier League preview: Stoke City v Sunderland

Phil Bardsley believes sixth-placed Sunderland can qualify for Europe competition this season.

Bardsley, 25, has been an integral part of Steve Bruce’s squad that has impressed many in the English Premier League this campaign, but the Black Cats four-match unbeaten streak was ended by Chelsea on Wednesday at the Stadium of Light.

Despite the 4-2 loss, Bardsley maintains the spirit within the squad is high ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stoke.

“We have a great bunch of lads, a top manager, the coaching staff everybody around the place enjoys being part of each other, and if we show that attitude and togetherness, we have got a hell of a chance to go forward,” Bardsley said.

“Stoke on Saturday is a big game and if we show the same attitude we have been doing lately, then I am sure we have got half a chance.”

Saturday’s match should mark the debut of Ghana international Sulley Muntari, who joined Bruce’s side on loan from Inter Milan in the January transfer window.

Administrative issues prevented Muntari from featuring on Wednesday, but Bruce is expecting the tenacious midfielder to feature, which will ease his injury woes.

The former Birmingham and Wigan boss was forced to use youngsters Jack Colback, Adam Reed and Jordan Cook on the bench against Chelsea and is looking forward to the return of several of his first-team squad.

“I think we have seven out, and they would obviously make a difference,” Bruce said.

“It’s been like that for four or five weeks now, and the lads who have been playing have done a fantastic job in that period. But we need to start getting some players back.”

Former PSG midfielder Stephane Sessegnon will make his second Sunderland appearance while Asamoah Gyan is likely to lead the line up front, after scoring a brace in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light in November.

While Lee Cattermole is an outside chance to play, strikers Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell and defender Michael Turner are all definite absentees.

Similarly to their opponents, Stoke City are also entering the match coming off a loss, having succumbed 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.

Stoke impressively held off Liverpool in the first half before collapsing in the second after goals to Raul Meireles and debutant Luis Suarez.

Tony Pulis was not overly disappointed with his side’s performance and insists there is plenty to be positive about this season.

“We could have the best season that this football club has had for a long, long time,” Pulis said.

“We could finish in the top 10 in the Premier League and we could be in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.”

Stoke will be keen to replicate the form they showed the last time they were on the road, winning 1-0 at Wolverhampton on January 30.

Pulis will have almost his entire squad to pick from, with second-choice defender Danny Higginbotham his only injury casualty.