Bruce drops Bent for Stoke clash

Leading scorer Darren Bent missed out as Sunderland boss Steve Bruce handed record signing Asamoah Gyan a first Barclays Premier League start against Stoke.

Bent, one of several members of the squad to have been affected by a flu bug during the week, dropped out from the side beaten 5-1 at Newcastle last weekend along with the suspended Titus Bramble.