Sunderland's Gyan forced to sit out Everton clash

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was denied a welcome selection headache when record signing Asamoah Gyan was forced to sit out tonight’s clash with Everton.

The Ghana international missed out through injury, but Bruce was able to replace him with leading scorer Darren Bent following his recovery from a hamstring problem.

Defender Titus Bramble was also missing as Anton Ferdinand returned from a hamstring strain in his place.

Everton boss David Moyes named the same XI which started last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Arsenal, and that meant a place for Tim Cahill, who went into the game having scored six times in nine appearances against the Black Cats.

Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Turner, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Richardson, Henderson, Cattermole, Zenden, Bent, Welbeck. Subs: Mignolet, Malbranque, Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros, Elmohamady, Adams.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Arteta, Heitinga, Pienaar, Saha, Cahill. Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Gueye, Yakubu, Rodwell.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)