Poyet blasts Potters’ pursuit of Sunderland duo

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has hit out at Stoke over their courtship of Lee Cattermole and Steven Fletcher on the eve of the Premier League clash between the clubs.

The sides meet at the Stadium of Light tonight with the 46-year-old Uruguayan, who refused to be drawn into a war of words with predecessor Paolo Di Canio, baring his teeth at the Potters.

Poyet said: “I am pleased that in the local newspaper, we didn’t throw any rumours about us being interested in any Stoke player, because that’s what they have done for the last week.