NICKLAS Bendtner will make his Sunderland debut in this afternoon's home game with Chelsea, on the same day the club confirmed Asamoah Gyan had joined UAE side Al-Ain on loan.

Bendtner joined on a season-long loan from Arsenal on transfer deadline day and goes straight into the starting line-up.

The striker scored twice as Denmark beat Norway in a Euro 2012 qualifier in midweek.

In total, Steve Bruce has made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Swansea in their last Premier League outing.

With John O'Shea injured, Titus Bramble returns to partner Wes Brown at the heart of the back four.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has made significant changes of his own with Fernando Torres dropped to the bench after a poor start to the season.

Daniel Sturridge starts up front, with deadline-day signing Raul Meireles making his Chelsea debut in midfield.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, Brown, Bramble, Richardson; Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner, Colback; Sessegnon; Bendtner.

Subs: Westwood (gk), Wickham, Vaughan, Ji, Turner, Elmohamady, McClean.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Ramires, Meireles; Anelka, Sturridge, Mata.

Subs: Hilario (gk), Luiz, Romeu, Torres, Malouda, McEachran, Kalou.