91Èȱ¬

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet says Lee Cattermole has a "massive" role at the club, despite almost joining Stoke City on transfer deadline day.

The Black Cats are understood to have accepted Stoke's bid for the 25-year-old hours after signing fellow holding midfielder Liam Bridcutt for £3m.

But according to Potters chairman Peter Coates, Sunderland changed their mind.

"Without doubt I'm glad Lee stayed. I'm calm as we have two very good players in the same position," said Poyet.

"It's great to keep him because he's a massive part of this squad as a player and with the team spirit."

Sunderland are 14th in the Premier League after a 3-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

Just a day after joining from Brighton & Hove Albion, Scotland midfielder Bridcutt played the full 90 minutes at St James' Park - his first game in more than four weeks.

Cattermole, who has played 106 games since in 2009, was not included in the match-day squad through injury.

"People who think we didn't want Lee in the squad are wrong," Poyet told 91Èȱ¬ Newcastle.

"Lee was injured, otherwise he would have played instead of Liam.

"But we are just very lucky that we managed to sign Liam and I knew he would be able to come straight in."