Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is ready to hand Sulley Muntari a debut against Stoke City in place of crock Lee Cattermole.
Bruce is ready to throw him in against Stoke as sixth-placed Sunderland look to bounce back from their 4-2 home defeat by Chelsea.
Muntari missed that game after flying back to Italy to sort out his visa, but is eligible this weekend.
Captain Cattermole's back problem, which has already sidelined him for five weeks, has not responded to treatment, with the midfielder requiring another month's rest.
