Meyler handed Black Cats start (From The Northern Echo)

Meyler handed Black Cats start

2:29pm Saturday 4th February 2012 in Sunderland AFC News By Richard Mason, Sports Writer/Sub-Editor

DAVID MEYLER is handed his first Premier League start of the season as Sunderland face Stoke at a snowy Britannia Stadium.

Groundsmen painted the lines blue as the snow started to fall just after 1pm today, with the weather conditions set to worsen as the afternoon goes on.

Martin O'Neill has rested Fraizer Campbell after playing two games on the bounce, with Meyler stepping into the midfield as Stephane Sessegnon is left to plough a lone furrow up front.

Wayne Bridge and Sotiris Kyrgiakos are on the bench, and Simon Mignolet has overcame a bruised knee to line up against the Potters this afternoon.

For Tony Pulis' side, Thomas Sorensen and Rory Delap are in the XI to face their old club, while ex-Cats captain Dean Whitehead is on the bench.

STOKE CITY (4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Walters; Jerome, Crouch. Subs: Jones, Fuller, Whitehead, Diao, Shotton, Woodgate, Begovic.

SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson; Larsson, Meyler, Gardner, Colback, McLean; Sessegnon. Subs: Bridge, Campbell, Wickham, Dong-won, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady, Westwood.