Rami Al Hajj starts: The predicted Plymouth Argyle XI to face Sunderland on Saturday | OneFootball

The Pilgrims will be looking to claim a first Championship win of the season against the early league leaders

Wayne Rooney is still looking for his first Championship win as Plymouth Argyle manager, although things won’t get much tougher than a visit from a flawless Sunderland side this Saturday.

While the Greens have registered two draws and two defeats in their opening four matches, the Black Cats will travel to Home Park having waltzed to victory in each of their opening fixtures.

In fact, the Mackems have only conceded one goal under the stewardship of Regis Le Bris so far, with a late Luke O’Nien own goal spoiling their run of clean sheets in their recent 3-1 victory over Portsmouth.

With that in mind, the former Manchester United man will need his side to be firing on all cylinders this weekend, with the Green Army likely to get their first glimpse of an exciting new signing in action.

GK: Daniel Grimshaw

Rooney was saved the task of choosing between Daniel Grimshaw and Conor Hazard in the battle for the number one shirt this week with the news that the latter has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with an ankle injury.

The Northern Ireland international picked up the knock against Stoke City in the last match before the international break, and has since undergone surgery for the issue, leading to his time on the sidelines.

As a result, August signing Grimshaw will be the man between the sticks on Saturday, with Argyle fans getting the chance to see what he can do in a league game for the first time.

The shot-stopper had a nervy start to life as a Pilgrim with a mistake that led to Watford’s opener in a 2-0 League Cup defeat last month, but recovered well with some top saves at Vicarage Road, which will have the Green Army confident he can repeat the trick in his league debut.

RB: Joe Edwards

It seems like Joe Edwards has been written off at some point throughout each of the last three seasons, but the Argyle skipper continues to prove the doubters wrong.

The 33-year-old leads by example with his full-blooded displays week in, week out, and has already proven himself to Rooney that he is the beating heart of this Pilgrims side.

What he might lack in pace he more than makes up for in passion and desire, and with the defensive line likely to be tested massively this Saturday, Edwards’ presence will help to dictate his teammates.

CB: Kornel Szucs

Hungarian import Kornel Szucs has proven himself to be an upgrade on anything the Greens already had at centre back after signing from Kecskemet in his homeland over the summer.

The imposing defender looks calm both in and out of possession, and has added an extra layer of steel to the backline since making his bow in the League Cup victory over Cheltenham Town last month.

CB: Lewis Gibson

Lewis Gibson must be one of the first names on the team sheet for Rooney, such is the dependability of the former Everton man.

His leadership qualities in the heart of the backline see him barely put a foot wrong during 90 minutes, and having played every minute of the season so far, the 24-year-old will likely be setting up next to Szucs once again.

LB: Bali Mumba

There is an argument to say that Bali Mumba has been one of the standout performers for Argyle in the early stages of the 24/25 campaign, with the former Norwich City man a coiled spring of energy down the left side.

His boundless energy gives the Greens a platform to excel when going forward, while the improvement in his defensive abilities has been marked compared to previous campaigns, making him a more dependable choice than Nathanael Ogbeta on the same flank.

With Rooney almost giving him licence to roam when going forward, Mumba has been seen popping up in a central role from time to time, and that flexibility and unpredictability could be crucial in unlocking the visitors’ defence.

CM: Adam Randell

Having missed the opening day humiliation at Sheffield Wednesday, Adam Randell has started every league game since in the middle of the park, with the Greens benefitting from his energy and dynamism in the engine room.

The academy graduate seems to pop up everywhere when he is firing on all cylinders, with his range of passing a key attribute that Rooney is looking to get the most out of.

With the likes of Rami Al Hajj likely to fill in further forward, Randell will be tasked with a deeper role, where his ability to break up opposition attacks will be put into question, with Argyle struggling to avoid being carved open through the middle at the beginning of the campaign.

CM: Darko Gyabi

Having started three of the four league games this season, Darko Gyabi looks to be a player that Rooney is pinning his hopes on to have a positive impact in the middle of the field.

With his trust in experienced campaigner Adam Forshaw diminishing after a foolish red card against Queens Park Rangers last month, the Leeds United loanee could well carry on in his role in the middle of the park.

The England youth international seems to be improving with every game as he gets back up to speed with Championship football, and will likely be given the nod ahead of Forshaw and Jordan Houghton in the midfield role.

RW: Morgan Whittaker

He creates, he scores, he is Plymouth Argyle’s attacking impetus. Morgan Whittaker is a shoe-in to start every Argyle game at this moment in time, given his wand of a left foot cutting in from the right hand side.

We have already seen what he can do this season with a thunderbolt against QPR, and with the former Swansea City man on the pitch there is always the hope that he can pull a rabbit out the hat at the most unpredictable of moments.

LW: Ibrahim Cissoko

Not even he knows what his dancing feet are going to do when he gets a hold of the ball and canters towards the penalty area, although it has garnered mixed results in his early days as a Pilgrim.

Having opened his account in the 1-1 draw with Hull City last month, the Dutch youth international has been impressive in spells so far during his Home Park stint, and will be looking to add more end product to his game.

The Green Army will be hoping his pace and trickery can help to exploit the visiting defence, and with Mumba alongside him going forward there could be a lot coming down that left-hand side this weekend.

CAM: Rami Al Hajj

Here he is then, the man tasked with turning Plymouth Argyle’s 24/25 Championship season around single-handedly.

There is a lot expected of Rami Al Hajj after he made the deadline day move to Home Park from Odense, with the playmaker looking like a live wire who could spark the frontline into gear.

The Pilgrims have been lacking a player who can drive forward and link midfield and attack, and the hope is that the 22-year-old is the man to bridge that gap.

Nobody really knows what to expect, so Sunderland can’t have much idea either. He goes in from the start here for definite.

ST: Michael Obafemi

Michael Obafemi’s undoubted quality has already been proven in his brief league appearances as an Argyle player so far, and with the international break giving him the chance to get up to speed with his teammates, there is every chance he could be given the nod in this one.

Ryan Hardie hasn't found the back of the net in a league game since February, and with the variety of options going forward Argyle have this season, an alternative option will be needed to give the Scot a break.

With his power and pace, the Burnley loanee can cause all manner of problems to EFL defences on his day, and a full league debut could well be on the cards as Rooney looks to shuffle the pack after the two-week hiatus.