Source: Northern_Echo
Bent not a worry for Bruce
STEVE Bruce insisted he has no concerns over Darren Bent's quality after admitting the striker is going through a blip in his Black Cats career.[LNB] The 26-year-old failed to make the scoresheet again at the Stadium of Light on Saturday his third game without a goal and looked out of sorts up front with Asamoah Gyan.[LNB] Despite creating the chance for Danny Welbeck's 32nd minute goal, Bent struggled to hit top gear and was a shadow of the man who romped to 25 goals last season.[LNB] But Bruce, buoyed by his side's fifth home league win of the season, is not worried about his talismanic striker's potential.[LNB] Asked whether Bent had fully recovered from a hamstring injury in November, Bruce said: I think he's fit. I know where you're coming from it's probably the leanest time he's had in a Sunderland shirt.[LNB] But his technique for bringing that one over his shoulder and hitting it was terrific. His standards have not been quite as high as he's set over 19 months he's been here, but they will come again.[LNB] It's a bit like Kieran Richardson he's not playing to his maximum either. But they play for the team, they work for the team and the rest will come. Class is permanent.[LNB] Last season, such a blip would have cost Sunderland dear, but the loan signing of Welbeck from Manchester United, and the arrival of £13million man Gyan have taken the pressure off Bent to provide the goals for Sunderland.[LNB] Bruce agreed: We didn't win a game unless Benty scored last season. But we know we've got a goal in us with them three, we're likely to. If we can keep clean sheets at the other end, we've got a chance.[LNB] The Black Cats manager, who revealed that Titus Bramble could return in the new year, is reluctant to add to his squad in January although he confirmed that the club are interested in making Nedum Onuoha's loan from Manchester City permanent.[LNB] He said: I can't look at loans because we've got our maximum.[LNB] You're only allowed two from English teams and we have got Onuoha and Welbeck.[LNB] The only way we would be able to do it is if we made Onuoha permanent.[LNB] Bramble might be back.[LNB] He's making huge strides he trained on the pitch this morning, I wouldn't be surprised if he was back training properly at the back end of next week.[LNB] If you look at what we've got, we're far stronger than we've ever been. We've got four or five missing but still got a decent squad and decent bench. That's good. It has to be enough.[LNB] It's like puppies at Christmas you don't just go and buy one because it's Christmas.[LNB] I'm very very pleased with what we've got. You don't usually get anything ...[LNB] bit strange that one, wasn't it you don't usually get what you can get what you want at Christmas, unless you stumble on one.[LNB] And as I said, Bramble might be available, so that's good news.[LNB] What do I normally get for Christmas Puppies.[LNB]
