David Meyler makes his first start of the season for Sunderland at Stoke. The Irishman replaces Fraizer Campbell with Craig Gardner set to support Stephane Sessegnon up front. Meanwhile new signing Wayne Bridge is on the bench, as is Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who is available for the first time since joining earlier in the week. Snow is falling at the Britannia with the groundstaff having painted the lines blue - but the game goes ahead. Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Richardson, Turner, O'Shea, Larsson, McClean, Colback, Meyler, Gardner, Sessegnon. Subs: Bridge, Campbell, Wickham, Dong-won, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady, Westwood. Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Wilson, Huth, Shawcross (C), Pennant, Walters, Delap, Whelan, Crouch, Jerome. Subs: Jones, Fuller, Whitehead, Diao, Shotton, Woodgate, Begovic.
Fully agree with this team selection. Would be silly risking Campbell in these conditions, slippy pitch with dirty oppo, the chance of mistimed tackles etc. No the right game to risk him but would have thought we would have seen Connor.
