Squad not big enough yet - Cana

Jan 31 2010 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

LORIK CANA believes Sunderland’s slump is down to a lack of strength in depth on Wearside.

The skipper insists the Black Cats are good enough to reach their goal of a top-10 finish – but only if they can keep their stars fit.

Cana will lead Sunderland into battle against Stoke at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, with the Black Cats looking for their first league win since November.

After a terrific start, Sunderland’s season has hit the skids over the last two months and Cana says it is no coincidence that the slump has coincided with an injury epidemic on Wearside.

At one stage over Christmas, Steve Bruce was without ten first-teamers – almost HALF his senior squad.

Even now, Bruce has a bunch of question marks over the fitness of key players including Lee Cattermole, Phil Bardsley, Michael Turner, Anton Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson.

And while Cana says Sunderland’s best XI are capable of finishing in the top half of the table, he admits that Sunderland are short of strength in depth.

“That’s been the problem over these last two months – the injuries we have had,” said the Albania international.

“For a team like us who are still trying to build a good team for the future, to lose three, four and, at one stage, eight or 10 players is really hard.

“We have only played with the same back four a handful of times and we have also had to make lots of changes in midfield because of injuries.

“It’s hard for the manager and the team to keep playing at the same level if there is so much disruption.

“Even the biggest teams – Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea – are affected when they lose a few of their best players.

“Imagine what it is like for a team like us to lose so many! If you look at our full-strength first eleven, I think we are definitely good enough to finish in the top 10.

“But when you look beyond that, beyond say our best 14 or 15 players, it would be very hard for us to finish in the top half.”