Bruce: Sunderland can still finish in the top 10

Jan 24 2010 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

STEVE BRUCE insists Sunderland can still finish in the top 10 - if he can keep the spine of his team fit.

After a bright start to the campaign, the Black Cats have slumped over the last two months.

A run of eight league games without a win has seen them slip to 13th – just four points above the relegation zone – but Bruce refuses to panic.

He points out that Sunderland’s loss of form has coincided with a spate of injuries and suspensions to key players.

Summer buy Lee Cattermole has played just twice in three months because of knee and hamstring problems, while Kieran Richardson (calf), John Mensah (hamstring) and Craig Gordon (broken arm) have all been out for lengthy spells.

Added to that, £4.5m defender Michael Turner missed four games through suspension.

All of those players are now available again, and Bruce is confident Sunderland’s form will return.

“As I’ve said for a long time now, we need our big players back – it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“We got off to a great start and there is a pattern, if you look at our results. They started to tail off when our big players started to get injured.

“I know that if Turner comes into the team, Gordon comes into the team, Cattermole comes into the team alongside Lorik Cana in midfield, I know we will be better.

“The spine of the team is what has been affected.

“Turner’s four-game suspension hurt us badly, and the injuries to Cattermole and Gordon – and the constant injuries to Mensah – have all taken their toll.

“I know that if I’ve got the spine of my team out on the pitch, we’ll be OK.

“We have to rediscover our form and our confidence and be positive.

“We’ve been on a terrible run and we haven’t won since we beat Arsenal two months ago. But there’s no fear just yet.

“I still believe that, when we’ve got everybody fit again, we can compete and finish in the top half of the table.”