Whelan and Delap start for Stoke; Meyler in for Black Cats

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made three changes to his team for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium.

Forward Cameron Jerome and midfielders Glenn Whelan and Rory Delap came into the Potters first XI, replacing Kenwyne Jones, Wilson Palacios – who, like the ill Matthew Etherington, did not feature in the squad at all – and Dean Whitehead.

There was only one adjustment for Martin O’Neill’s in-form Black Cats, with David Meyler promoted to the starting line-up and Fraizer Campbell dropping to the bench, while transfer deadline day loan signings Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos were also among the substitutes.

Stoke v Sunderland Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Walters, Jerome, Crouch.

Subs: Begovic, Jones, Fuller, Diao, Whitehead, Shotton, Woodgate.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, O’Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Meyler, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon.

Subs: Westwood, Bridge, Campbell, Wickham, Ji, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)