How Figueroa is still figuring in Bruce’s plans

Dec 13 2009 by Luke Edwards, Sunday Sun

STEVE Bruce is still on the trail of Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa despite his former club’s determination to hold on to the Honduras international.

Sunderland were close to sealing a deal for the 26-year-old – pictured left celebrating after scoring against Stoke yesterday – at the end of August, but the deal collapsed with just a few days of the transfer window remaining.

Wigan are annoyed by Bruce’s attempts to plunder his former team of their best players – the Black Cats boss also an interest in former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble – and have previously insisted nobody will be allowed to move to Wearside.

But Bruce has not been put off and, having forced Wigan to sell him Lee Cattermole against their will in the summer, he hopes to do the same with Figueroa.

The former Club Deportivo Olimpia has made a big impression in his first 18 months in the Premier League and Bruce is convinced he will add another dimension to his Sunderland side, particularly going forward.

Figueroa had been out of action for the last five weeks with a knee injury before returning to first-team action yesterday, paving the way for a window move.