West Brom vs Sunderland team news: Baggies' trio handed debut as Jack Rodwell starts for Black Cats

Rodwell joined Sunderland from Manchester City in the summer

Jack Rodwell starts for Sunderland (Getty Images)

Alan Irvine has named three new signings in his first match in charge of West Brom as the Baggies welcome Sunderland to the Hawthorns on the opening day of the Premier League season.

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Andre Wisdom, Sébastien Pocognoli and Craig Gardner all start for West Brom, who will look to England youth international Saido Berahino and former Everton striker Victor Anichebe to get them firing in attack.

For Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, he will be hoping for a fair more straight forward season after last term’s scrape with relegation. He hands a first start to new left-back Patrick van Aanholt after he left Chelsea in the summer, while ex-Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell will make his debut for the Black Cats.

Sought-after striker Connor Wickham starts alongside Steven Fletcher, while support will be provided by another former City star in Adam Johnson.

Midweek signing Will Buckley is named along the substitutes.

Line-ups:

West Brom: Foster, Wisdom, Dawson, Olsson, Pocognoli, Dorrans, Gardner, Mulumbu, Brunt, Berahino, Anichebe.

Subs: Baird, Yacob, Ideye, Myhill, Davidson, O'Neil, Sessegnon.

Sunderland: Mannone, Roberge, Brown, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Larsson, Cattermole, Rodwell, Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher.

Subs: Pantilimon, Bridcutt, Gomez, Altidore, Mavrias, Graham, Buckley.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)