David Moyes and his Sunderland team will welcome Stoke City to the Stadium of Light today, and the talk among the punters over at the pool table here in the Tavern is about the Sunderland manager’s use of his bench.

Some of our regulars feel the former Man United and Everton manager is not getting enough out of his squad, especially those who come off the bench to try and influence games.

Stoke are a resilient side in their own right, and under Mark Hughes have developed into a really good outfit over the past few seasons. They are a difficult side for anyone to beat, never mind a struggling team like Sunderland.

Key to taking the three points for Moyes and his boys this weekend will be if anyone can come off the subs bench to change the game for the Black Cats.

Our landlord thinks the Sunderland bench contains enough quality to have an impact, so here are TWO players David Moyes needs to use as impact subs this weekend…

Steven Pienaar

Former Everton midfielder Pienaar is a favourite of David Moyes following both their spells with the Toffees, and the time could be now for Moyse to unleash the South African.

Pienaar has the trickery and skill to unlock even the tightest defences in the Premier League, and with a tight game expected today, he could be the key.

Expect Pienaar to make an impact sooner or later, with today as good a day as any to hit form.

Wahbi Khazri

Tricky front-man Khazri has hardly set the world alight since his move to Sunderland, but he does have something in his locker.

He is exactly the sort of player who can come on and bring the unpredictable to a game, something which can often be the difference in a tight match.

Moyes should 100% call on Khazri if his side are struggling for a goal against Stoke today.