Sessegnon set for Sunderland start

Stephane Sessegnon will make his Sunderland debut in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash against Chelsea but fellow new signing Sulley Muntari is unavailable.

Both players signed for the Black Cats on Saturday and playmaker Sessegnon trained today. Muntari has had to return to Italy to sort out his visa, although boss Steve Bruce is hopeful he will be available to face Stoke on Saturday.

Former Paris St Germain star Sessegnon is a valuable addition to a thin Sunderland squad, with David Meyler, Danny Welbeck, Fraizer Campbell (all knee) and Michael Turner still injured, while Boudewijn Zenden is also set to miss out.

Captain Lee Cattermole could return from a back problem and John Mensah (ankle) is vying for a starting place after making the bench for the 2-1 win at Blackpool nine days ago.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Mignolet, Onuoha, Bardsley, Richardson, Angeleri, Ferdinand, Bramble, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Colback, Gyan, Adams, Cook, Reed, Sessegnon, Cattermole, Mensah.