GUS POYET will name Liam Bridcutt as a like-for-like replacement for Lee Cattermole when Sunderland entertain Everton this weekend.

Cattermole picked up his fifth booking of the season in Monday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, and will therefore be suspended when Everton visit the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.

Poyet has the option of dropping back Jack Rodwell into the deep-lying role, with the former England international having made his name as a combative and energetic midfield presence during his early years at Goodison Park.

However, the Sunderland head coach is set to hand Bridcutt his first Premier League start of the season as he looks to build on the momentum that was generated by Monday’s win at Selhurst Park.

Having been signed from Brighton for around £4m in January, Bridcutt was originally expected to be a permanent replacement for Cattermole, who was set to join Stoke City before Poyet pulled the plug on a proposed deal on deadline day.

However, while Cattermole has exceeded expectations in the last few months, Bridcutt has failed to live up to his billing, and Sunday’s game will represent a rare opportunity for him to get his Black Cats career back on track.

“Liam has been fine and is waiting,” said Poyet. “I've even been tempted every now and then to play them (Bridcutt and Cattermole) both together. Lee is Lee, and it (the suspension) doesn't bother me. It was going to happen sooner or later.”

Poyet will also have to find a replacement for Patrick van Aanholt, with the full-back having suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder on Monday.

In van Aanholt’s absence, Anthony Reveillere switched flanks, with Santiago Vergini moving to right-back to accommodate Wes Brown’s return alongside John O’Shea at centre-half.

That is expected to be the defensive formation at the weekend, with Billy Jones still unavailable as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem.

“It’s very frustrating being injured, but when you are unable to help the lads on the pitch, all you can hope for is that they win,” said Jones. “I was absolutely buzzing watching the game on Monday, and was made up that we got the three points.”

* Seb Larsson has the chance to equal a Sunderland club record this month following his selection in the Sweden squad for a Euro 2016 qualifier with Montenegro and a friendly with France. If Larsson appears in either game, he will equal Charlie Hurley’s record of 38 international caps earned while playing for Sunderland.