Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has insisted that the starting spots in his team for the League Cup final are not yet guaranteed and that he will select the team on form.

Poyet said that he has a core of players who will play if they are fit, but that the rest of the lineup will be made up of those who impress against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

"Managers will always have seven or eight we will pick if they are fit, which leaves three or four which are always available for people depending on what they do or how they feel," BBC Sport quotes Poyet as saying.

"I hope nothing happens next week so I can make the decisions based on performance and what we need."

Sunderland are currently 18th in the Premier League.