Sessegnon debuts for Sunderland

Transfer window signing Stephane Sessegnon has been handed a swift debut for Sunderland tonight as Chelsea’s big-money arrivals were forced to wait.

Neither £50m Spain striker Fernando Torres nor £25m-plus Brazil defender David Luiz completed their moves to Stamford Bridge in time to be involved in tonight’s Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light.

But Benin international Sessegnon, who joined on Saturday in a £6m switch from Paris St Germain, starts for the Black Cats in place of the injured Bolo Zenden – unlike loan signing Sulley Muntari, who has returned to Italy for a visa.

The champions have made two changes to the side which drew 1-1 in the FA Cup at Everton at the weekend as John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou replace Ramires and Florent Malouda.

Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Bramble, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Henderson, Sessegnon, Malbranque, Richardson, Gyan.

Subs: Mignolet, Angeleri, Riveros, Mensah, Colback, Reed, Cook.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Essien, Anelka, Drogba, Kalou.

Subs: Turnbull, Ramires, Malouda, Ferreira, Bruma, McEachran, Sala.

Referee: Mark Halsey.