Long out of West Brom team to face Sunderland

Stephane Sessegnon was handed his West Brom debut as the club that let him go this month, Sunderland, visited The Hawthorns.

The Benin international was sold by the Wearsiders on transfer deadline day and was eligible to make his first appearance for the Baggies after receiving his work permit.

Strikers Shane Long and Matej Vydra failed to prove their fitness for the Barclays Premier League clash while Sunderland welcomed back John O’Shea from suspension and handed a first start to loan striker Fabio Borini.

West Brom: Myhill, Billy Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Morrison, Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Sinclair, Anelka.

Subs: Popov, Yacob, Rosenberg, Camp, Lugano, Anichebe, Berahino.

Sunderland: Westwood, Celustka, Diakite, O’Shea, Colback, Johnson, Gardner, Ki, Giaccherini, Borini, Fletcher.

Subs: Altidore, Ba, Cuellar, Mannone, Ji, Cattermole, Mavrias.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)