Bruce wheels out big guns for Hammers meeting

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has paired new record signing Asamoah Gyan and Darren Bent together for the first time in the hunt for Carling Cup glory.

The £13m-plus summer arrival teamed up with last season’s top scorer as Bruce makes just two changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Arsenal, Gyan and Phil Bardsley replacing Steed Malbranque and Titus Bramble.

Opposite number Avram Grant, however, has made seven changes to the team which secured a first Barclays Premier League point of the season at Stoke on Saturday.

In come Marek Stech, Tal Ben Haim, James Tomkins, Pablo Barrera, Luis Boa Morte, Radoslav Kovac and Julien Faubert as only skipper Scott Parker, Manuel Da Costa, Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna are retained.