The pair have shared the role of defensive midfielder in Poyet’s preferred 4-1-4-1 line-up, Bridcutt starting four of the seven games since he joined Sunderland at the end of January and Cattermole the other three.
Gus Poyet: “Liam played under me at Brighton and knows the way I like to play. Lee has learnt more than anyone about how I want to play.
“This week we have trained a lot with them playing together, because I began to feel they were thinking ‘it is him or me’ in each game.
“So we have done a lot of work this week on tactics and how they could work together.
“There could be a game or games when playing both of them together would be the best way to go.
“It is a defensive position. I don’t expect them to score, get forward or overlap – if they do great but I don’t expect it. I want them to help us keep clean sheets.”