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Another January addition, Myles Peart-Harris has been demonstrating his ability in the final third ever since joining Oxford with four shots in four starts. The attacking midfielder was also given the opportunity to start as a striker away at Coventry and so there’s every chance Matt Bloomfield opts to give him that role again, further increasing the likelihood of him getting a sight of goal.

As impressive as Sunderland’s season has been, it has been built on their excellent home form whilst they’ve struggled away from the northeast. The Black Cats have shipped 16.36 shots per game on the road and when they hosted League One Huddersfield in the EFL Cup, they allowed them 11 attempts on their goal therefore Oxford should get some joy in attack.

Oxford United were somewhat fortunate to make it to this stage of the FA Cup, as they squeezed past League Two side MK Dons in the previous round.

That tie finished 1-1 after extra time, but Oxford were lucky to even make it that far. MK Dons generated 2.82 xG from 12 shots, while Oxford managed just 0.94 xG in return, highlighting how little control the visitors had despite being favourites.

Sunderland will pose a much greater threat in the final third here, which is a worrying sign for Oxford, especially given how they were thrashed 6-0 by Brighton in the EFL Cup earlier in the campaign.

Interestingly, Oxford still managed more shots and a higher xG than Brighton in that game, which suggests this match could be another open affair with chances available at both ends of the field.

That EFL Cup meeting with Brighton produced 12 corners in total, with Oxford accounting for seven of them. The Yellows tend to play with more attacking intent on home turf, which is reflected in their corner numbers.

They are averaging 4.71 corners per game at the Kassam Stadium this season, compared to just 3.12 when playing away, suggesting a more progressive approach when encouraged by the home crowd.

Sunderland, meanwhile, are conceding 4.86 corners per game on their travels this season. While that has been against Premier League opponents, it is worth noting that Sunderland were eliminated by League One side Huddersfield in the EFL Cup this season, which shows how they can be vulnerable with a rotated lineup.

Regis Le Bris has shown a tendency to shuffle his pack in cup competitions, and that could make this a more evenly-balanced contest.

Przemyslaw Placheta accounted for two of Oxford’s 19 shots against Brighton, with both efforts coming from inside the box. The 27-year-old featured on the opposite flank to his usual role in that game, yet still managed to get into promising shooting positions. He has since returned to a more natural right-wing role and looks set to start there again.

Being left-footed, Placheta naturally wants to cut inside, and he has shown a tendency to shoot from distance when space opens up. He is averaging 2.52 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, and his shot volume has remained notably consistent despite Oxford’s struggles.

17 of his 29 shots in the league have come from outside the box, which could be useful against a Sunderland side that often limits clear-cut chances but allows opponents to shoot from range. They have conceded the third-most shots in the Premier League this season.

Expecting Le Bris to rotate, Wilson Isidor should get his chance to lead the line again this weekend. The Frenchman last started a game back in December, so he will want to seize the opportunity here as he hopes to re-establish himself as the number one option up front.

Still, his output in limited minutes has been encouraging, as Isidor is averaging 3.27 shots per 90 across all competitions this season.

Considering that shot volume has been against Premier League opponents, this matchup against Oxford is particularly appealing. The Yellows have struggled to limit chances for their opponents this season, and with 41 goals conceded, they have been one of the worst defensive units in the Championship.

Sunderland are likely to dominate possession here, and they come into this clash as heavy favourites. Isidor should see regular involvement in the final third if Sunderland can sustain pressure.