Waddle: Steve Bruce can make Black Cats purr

Jun 21 2009 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

CHRIS WADDLE is backing Steve Bruce to transform Sunderland from serial strugglers into a top 10 side next season.

Less than a month ago, Sunderland survived on the last day of the season – but only because relegation rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough both lost.

Yet former Sunderland, Newcastle and England star Waddle believes the Black Cats are just three players short of a side that can push to finish in the top half of the table,

“There’s not a lot wrong with Sunderland from being a mid-table/top-half side – a side capable of maybe finishing eighth or ninth if Steve Bruce can get a few players in early doors,” said Waddle.

“He needs to think ‘hold on, this team almost got relegated’ so they’ve obviously got problems but let’s deal with them quickly.

“They are not major problems in my opinion. I think they need to add three decent players to that squad.

“Obviously there will be a few moving out, too and there’ll be a little bit of wheeling and dealing, but that team should finish well away from relegation.”

Sunderland’s flirtation with disaster saw manager Roy Keane leave in November, with Ricky Sbragia taking over until the end of the season to steer the club to safety – just!

But once Sbragia stepped down Sunderland acted quickly to bring in the experienced Bruce and he will want to put his own stamp on the squad and the summer is set to be a busy time with players arriving and leaving Wearside.

Waddle, who played seven games for his boyhood idols Sunderland at the end of the 1996-97 season, said: “Defensively, they made a lot of risks towards the end of the season and that’s got to be sorted but Steve Bruce was a centre-half so he should know how to handle that one!

“In midfield, people like Richardson, Whitehead and Leadbitter did well – I thought Sunderland were decent in midfield.

“They need someone decent to play up front alongside Kenwyne Jones – they need someone who can read him, because he is a good player.”