NICKLAS BENDTNER is in line to be handed an immediate start for Sunderland when Chelsea travel to Wearside this Saturday, with skipper Lee Cattermole convinced the striker will be intent on making the most of his opportunity to shine.

Bendtner, who played for Denmark against Norway last night in a Euro 2012 qualifier, is due to take part in his first training session with the Black Cats tomorrow after travelling back to the North-East today.

Steve Bruce, the Sunderland boss, is keen to include the rangy striker in his starting line-up as soon as possible in the hope it will lead to a first win of the new Premier League season.

That could mean Asamoah Gyan, who has remained with the club despite plenty of interest in him from Turkey and France during the summer transfer window, having to drop to the bench following a poor start.

It will be Bendtner's first start at club level since he played in the goalless draw against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on March 5. Cattermole, though, is satisfied Arsenal have lost a striker capable of lifting everyone in the squad.

"I've always liked him to be honest with you," said Cattermole. "He's a big presence, he's got an attitude about him. I don't know him as a person but as a player he's got ability.

"He's going to be good for us, and hopefully we can get the best out of him as a team and maybe he can get the best out of a couple of other players.

"Hopefully he'll settle in quickly, play at the weekend and score a goal. He played a lot down the left for Arsenal but I think he's better in the middle. He'll definitely be playing up front for us, I'm sure of that. I'm really looking forward to seeing him. He can only help us at the minute."

The problem facing Bruce will be how to accommodate all of his strikers following the arrival of Bendtner on a season-long loan from the Gunners.

The 23-year-old - who score nearly 50 goals during his time in North London - will not have arrived to sit on the bench, while Bruce also spent more than £10m on promising strikers Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won in during the close-season.

Stephane Sessegnon, signed as an attacking midfielder capable of playing on either wing or through the middle, has been operating just behind Gyan in the opening few games of the season.

And Cattermole said: "I don't know how much of an out-and-out striker Stephane is. He does really well in the hole, but I'm not sure how many goals he'll get us.

"There's been a lot of pressure on Asa being the only experienced striker up there. We've got Connor and I'm sure Nicklas can help him. They can be similar types of players."

Cattermole has been disappointed with the points return from the opening three games of the season, having claimed two points from a possible nine.

The defeats to Newcastle and Brighton, in the Carling Cup, sparked huge criticism among supporters and the frustrations were felt inside the dressing room.

But Cattermole said: "We've had three (league) games, and we just want to get up and running. We have a spell now where we're playing for the next six or seven weeks, so hopefully we can find our best team and get a couple of wins.

"I can see why people are saying the pressure's been building with it (the defeat) being a derby, but anyone who's looked at our games will see we've been creating chances and we've looked like we won't concede a goal.

"We're not far away and we've made a lot of changes. It's going to take

time so maybe the break has come at a good time for us. We've got two home games now and they're both tough but they're winnable. If we get things right we can win both those games."